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CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 




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CARDINAL MERCIER'S 
OWN STORY 

by 

His Eminence^ D.J. Cardinal Mercier 

Archbishop of Malines 
INTRODUCTION BY PROFESSOR FERNAND MAYENCE 

Prefatory Letter by His Eminence 
JAMES CARDINAL GIBBONS 




NEW XSr YORK 
GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY 



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COPYRIGHT, 1920, 
BY GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY 







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COPYRIGHT, 1919, 1920, BY PUBLIC LEDGER CO. 

COPYRIGHT, CANADA, 1919, I920, BY PUBLIC LEDGER CO. 

INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT, 1919, 1920, BY PUBLIC LEDGER CO. 



PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 



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ARCHEVihCHE 1>E MALINES 



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FOREWORD 

Archeveche de Malines. 

I think I owe the public a word of explanation as to 
how this book has seen the light. 

During the war, and more frequently after the armis- 
tice, I was asked would I write a narrative of my war ex- 
periences. 

I had taken many notes of events as they had occurred, 
and my memory was full of incidents in which I was con- 
cerned. 

Much as I would have wished to write such a story, 
from some points of view, if only to vindicate my country 
against its detractors, the libels circulated by its enemies, yet 
I felt, more and more inevitably as the weeks rolled by, that 
I would never have time to write this book. 

I then thought of my correspondence with the German 
authorities right through the war. 

Here are my war experiences in their most tense and 
vivid reality; all the issues I fought with the occupying 
power, their methods and mine clearly defined, undeniably 
fixed in black and white. 

So I asked a friend of mine, Professor Mayence, of 
Louvain University, to take my notes and material, and to 
edit my correspondence with short explanatory remarks 
about the letters and the events they referred or led up to. 
I also gave him some personal reminiscences for this pur- 
pose, and with him revised the whole book. 

I could not let his work go to press without publicly 
thanking him for having helped me as he has done. 

D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 
Archbishop of Malines. 

7th ist '19 







September 16 1 1919. 

I am very happy to "be able to 
reaommend to the American reading publio 
this authorized, official and authentic 
Btory of my "beloved and esteemed brother, 
Cardinal Meroier's experience during the 
Great War. 

In it the reader will realize the 
full meaning of the Cardinal 1 s attitude 
during the war, and possess a true historical 
account of the great moral fight which was 
carried on by him as Belgium's spiritual 
leader. 



PREFACE 

By Professor Fernand Mayence, 
of Louvain University, Louvain, Belgium 

From all parts of the world, but especially from Amer- 
ica, His Eminence Cardinal Mercier was requested to write 
his experiences during the German occupation of Belgium. 

The magnificent role which he had played during the 
war was universally known. His pastoral letters with which 
tie confronted the power in occupation and in which he 
publicly proclaimed the rights of truth and justice had been 
read in every corner of the world. Some of the powerful 
letters addressed by him to the German Governor General 
as a protest against the odious regime imposed upon Bel- 
gium had already been published even during the occupa- 
tion. The knowledge of certain episodes of the duel which 
bad been going on between the Cardinal and the German 
Governor General roused a good deal of curiosity. 

What people wanted was to have in detail from him 
who had been during the occupation of Belgium the "soul 
of resistance" all the varying phases of the conflict which, 
without a moment's respite or any signs of wavering, he 
waged against the tyranny of the oppressor. 

The many and unceasing labors of his episcopal office 
hindered the Cardinal from yielding to these pressing re- 
quests; but his experiences, had they not already been em- 
bodied during the war in the voluminous correspondence 
he had exchanged with the representatives of the Imperial 
Government ? 

To satisfy those who wanted a book on his encounters 
with the Germans, the Cardinal consented to the publication 
of these documents and conferred upon us a great honor in 
choosing us to edit them. 



viii PREFACE 

During the occupation, certain portions of the archi- 
episcopal archives — among other the Cardinal's correspond- 
ence with the German Governor General — underwent the 
fate of all the "verboten." To avoid perquisitions and to 
guard against their being seized, they had to be hidden away 
in dark corners which, today appearing to afford security, 
tomorrow ceasing to do so, eventually were in all haste 
changed for others. 

Unfortunately, in the course of these repeated and hur- 
ried removals from one place to another, some of the docu- 
ments^ — happily of small importance, so it seems — went 
astray. We have called attention to these lacunas in the 
course of our work each time that we were able to certify 
the fact. 

We have here reproduced all the documents that have 
been preserved. We have only left out a few letters of 
little importance, as, for instance, the sending of a passport 
to travel by motor or those only containing requests in favor 
of political prisoners, and for that reason presenting no 
point of general interest. 

In the arrangement of the documents the method 
adopted is not a strictly chronological one. At the risk of 
not respecting the order in which they were written we 
thought it useful, at the same time as we have endeavored 
to follow as closely as possible the sequence of events, to 
group the letters according to the principal objects for which 
they were written. 

Cardinal Mercier's correspondence with the German 
Governor General is, in brief, an expose of the hateful 
regime to which Belgium was subjected during the fifty long 
months of the German domination. There is, in fact, not 
a single crime of the occupying power which this courageous 
pastor has not stigmatized, not a single one of its snares 
which he has not exposed, not a single one of its hypocritical 
acts which he has not laid bare, not one single act of abuse 
of its governing power against which he has not raised his 
voice in angry protest. 



PREFACE ix 

Scorning all danger,* listening only to the voice of his 
conscience, he constantly kept to the fore against the abuse 
of "might," the imprescribable rights of truth and justice. 
By his uniform behavior, by the calmness and nobleness 
of his attitude, whether in the face of threats or of concilia- 
tory proposals of the occupying power, he upset the calcula- 
tions of a government which labored under the conviction 
that a systematic organization placed at the service of 
"might" ought eventually to triumph over all resistance. 

From the time he took office as Governor General, 
Baron von Bissing, using the Cardinal of Cologne as an 
intermediary, endeavored to enter into personal relations 
with the primate of Belgium. He gave him to understand 
that he was disposed to give entire satisfaction to the Catho- 
lic Church and to assuage the wounds already inflicted on 
the occupied country by the war. 

In his first letter to Baron von Bissing, while thanking 
him in a very courteous manner for the good feelings shown 
by him, His Eminence made a point of clearing away from 
the beginning any possible misunderstanding. "Whatever 
may be His Excellency Baron von Bissing' s personal incli- 
nations," he wrote, "the Governor General is the represen- 
tative among us of a usurping and openly hostile nation, 
in the presence of which we boldly affirm our rights to our 
independence and to have our neutrality respected." "If, 
for the time being, we bow to a stronger power than our 
own," wrote he at the same time to Cardinal von Hart- 
mann, "we proudly cherish our rights, and entertain our 
unshaken confidence in the future I" 

Submission to the regulations imposed by the occupying 
power so long as they did not wound either our conscience 
or the dignity of our feeling as patriots; repeated protests 
against acts of violence and injustice; unfailing fidelity to 
our king and to the legitimate authority of our country; 
and unconquerable trust in the future — all these are the 

♦Note — It has been established by convincing evidence that on several 
occasions the Cardinal's arrest had been decided upon, but the German 
authorities each time held back in view of the consequences of this step 
and their decision was never put into force. 



x PREFACE 

principal points of the program sketched out by the Car- 
dinal from the very beginning of the occupation and to 
which he faithfully adhered up to the hour of deliverance. 

The letters exchanged between the Cardinal and Baron 
von Bissing are very numerous and touch on very varied 
topics. The Governor General shows himself alternately 
conciliatory and quarrelsome, menacing and argumentative. 
But unfailingly he finds himself up against the calm and 
sereneness of a man strongly convinced of his rights and 
thoroughly confident in the justice and holiness of his cause. 

Baron von Falkenhausen, Baron von Bissing's successor 
in the office of Governor General, stands out as the type 
of an autocratic and brutal officer. He declared on his 
arrival in Belgium that he declined to discuss with the Car- 
dinal questions which had no direct connection with religious 
matters. 

This implied prohibition did not restrain His Eminence 
from sending with his usual frankness and vigor protests 
to the Governor against the breaches of law committed 
by him or his officers, and notably against the arrest of state 
officials who had been charged with having refused to col- 
laborate with the enemy administration and against meas- 
ures taken by the occupying power to despoil the Belgians 
of the produce of the soil. 

From the very beginning of the occupation, without 
allowing himself to be repelled by the successive refusals 
with which his requests had been met, His Eminence had 
constantly asked for sanction to send to the prisoner camps 
in Germany priests of Belgian nationality who could speak 
both native tongues. As the new Governor General had 
declared that in religious matters he would readily welcome 
any demands that came from the Belgian episcopacy, the 
Cardinal again returned to the charge, but his persistence 
had no greater success than before. 

The same happened with several other requests made 
by him in which he pleaded for measures to be taken to fur- 
ther the religious welfare of the railway men and of those 
persons who had been arrested and were awaiting their 
trial in Belgian prisons. If Baron von Falkenhausen ever 



PREFACE 



XI 



consented to take notice of any demands that were in any 
way connected with religious affairs, it was only to reply 
that he was not in a position to grant them. 

The one who corresponded at great length with the Car- 
dinal was Baron von der Lancken, head of the political 
department at government headquarters. At the very be- 
ginning of the occupation he came into touch with His 
Eminence. For all that, his first letters to the Cardinal date 
only from the commencement of 191 6. 

After this he intervenes in all the important matters 
which became the object of discussion between the Cardinal 
and the Germans ; namely, deportations, the patriotic action 
of the priests, church demonstrations, the severance of ad- 
ministrative powers, the disastrous policy of the "Cen- 
trales," etc. 

His letters betray the cold reserve of a diplomat. Con- 
trary to his chiefs, he never loses his temper. If, very often 
at the request of the Governor General, he undertakes to 
take up and plead the bad cases brought forward by the 
representatives of the empire, he acts for them without en- 
thusiasm, without conviction, almost in dilettante fashion. 

He takes delight in these epistolary jousts, and at cer- 
tain moments his correspondence with the Cardinal assumes 
the glamour of an academic discussion in the course of 
which the opponents argue out questions of right, of gen- 
eral policy, even those of philosophy. On the other hand, 
it seems that occasionally Baron von der Lancken did ear- 
nestly endeavor to soften the rigor of measures imposed by 
the military authorities. 

During the four years of occupation, the Governor Gen- 
eral, and following his example the whole of Germany, had 
constantly reproached the Cardinal with having overstepped 
his role of bishop. When at the beginning of the invasion 
he condemned the crimes committed by the German troops ; 
when he rose in anger against the deportation of workmen; 
when he declared that it was every one's duty to love his 
country and to remain faithful to it even under oppression; 
when he sought to uplift the fainting heart of the Belgian 
population with the hope of a better future, he was accused 



Xll 



PREFACE 



of having misused his pastoral functions and of having pur- 
sued political ends. 

Over and over again the Cardinal gloriously defeated 
his accusers. He had the satisfaction of seeing his conduct 
justified by the Imperial Government itself. 

On October 17th, 191 8, Baron von der Lancken pre- 
sented himself at Archbishop's House. In the name of the 
Governor General and of the Berlin government, he an- 
nounced to His Eminence the approaching release of all 
political prisoners and handed to him a note which com- 
mences with words vindicating the policy pursued by the 
Cardinal: "You are in our estimation the incarnation of 
occupied Belgium of which you are the venerated and 
trusted pastor. For this reason, it is to you that the Gov-* 
ernor General and my government also have commissioned 
me to come and to announce that when we evacuate your 
soil we wish to hand over to you unasked and of our own 
free-will the political prisoners serving their time either in 
Belgium or in Germany." 

This was an avowal of defeat. At the close of the 
struggle, which he had waged for four years against the 
Cardinal, the German Governor General acknowledged 
himself beaten. All his policy of coercion as well as his 
diplomatic subterfuges had broken down before the strong 
and unbending will of a man who, in everything and at all 
times had this one thing alone in view — to do his duty. 



TRANSLATOR'S NOTE 

The translators by way of preface have only this to 
remark: That the work undertaken by them to give an 
English rendering to the present correspondence has been a 
real labor of love. 

Near spectators of the events which took place in Bel- 
gium during the occupation, the news of which leaked out 
at odd times in spite of the German censorship, we came 
to entertain for His Eminence, who largely loomed in these 
events, great admiration and sympathy, so that when the 
work of translating a series of letters which reflected the 
sturdiness, stanchness and unflagging courage of this stout 
champion of Belgian rights was offered to us, we gladly 
and lovingly accepted the honorable task. 

If our humble collaboration is to result, as we hope it 
will, in making still better known the saintly virtues of a 
Prince of the Church who, like St. Thomas of Canterbury 
and many other churchmen in history, was prepared to give 
up even his life for his flock and their rights, we shall be 
more than proud in having had some small share in bring- 
ing this about, while at the same time we beg the reading 
public, in view of the many difficulties with which a work 
of this kind is hedged, to condone any discrepancies or other 
faults that may have crept in in the course of our endeavor 
to reveal to them the minds of the several writers. 



CONTENTS 

CHAPTER PAGE 

I First Relations of the Cardinal with von Bissing . 23 

II The Cardinal asks von Bissing Authority to Send Belgian 

Priests into Prisoners' Camps in Germany .... 34 

III Salaries of the Clergy 35 

IV Von Bissing Complains to the Cardinal About the Manner 

in which the French Treat German Officer Prisoners 43 

V The Pastoral Letter. Patriotism and Endurance . . 45 

VI Proposal for an Inquiry into the Murder by German 

Troops of Priests Belonging to the Diocese of Malines 65 

VII Release of the Belgian Doctors and Chemists Confined 

at Heidelberg 71 

VIII The Cardinal's Protest Against the Behaviour of a 

German Military Chaplain 100 

IX The Cardinal Intercedes on Behalf of F. von Bambeke, 
S. J., and of the Abbe Cuylits; von Bissing Complains of 
the Patriotic Attitude Taken up by the Clergy . . . 103 

X Scheme for an Inquiry on the Subject of Assaults Com- 
mitted by German Soldiers upon Nuns 106 

XI The Muster-roll of Young Men Clashing with Religious 

Services on Sundays 110 

XII Von Bissing Complains of a Discourse of Mgr. De Wach- 

ter's 112 

XIII The Cardinal's Interview with Mgr. Wittendorf . . 114 

XIV The Cardinal asks von Bissing to Authorize the Sending 

of Chaplains to the Belgian Army and Presses for 
Religious Ministrations to Political Prisoners to be 
Entrusted to Belgian Priests. The Governor General 

Refuses 118 

xv 



xvi CONTENTS 



CHAPTER PAGE 

XV The Governor General Authorizes the Corpus Christi 

Procession 127 

XVI Von Bissing Refuses to Allow Belgian Counsel to Defend 
Fathers De Bruyne and Bonne, S. J., Arraigned Before 
the Military Tribunal of Antwerp 128 

XVII Interview Between Cardinal Mercier and Baron von der 
Lancken Regarding the Pastoral Letter, "A Call to 
Prayer" 131 

XVIII Treatment of Religious Awaiting Trial in the Military 

Prisons at Malines and at Louvain 148 

XIX Sermons Preached by the Clergy 168 

XX Guarding of the Telephone Line at Vilvorde . . . 179 

XXI Before Leaving for Rome, the Cardinal again Recommends 
to von Bissing the Moral and Religious Interests of 
Political Prisoners 182 

XXII Renewed Complaints of Baron von Bissing Concerning 

the Preaching of the Clergy 185 

XXIII The Pastoral Letter "On my Return from Rome" . . . 188 

XXIV Patriotic Action of the Priests 207 

XXV Protests of the Bishops Against the Enrollment in the 

German Army of Young Belgians of German Parentage 230 

XXVI The Cardinal's Public Address in the Church of St. 

Gudule, July 21, 1916 232 

XXVII The Rights of the Occupying Power 250 

XXVIII Fresh Arrests of Priests 288 

XXIX Interference of the Occupying Power with the Teaching 

of the Normal Schools 296 

XXX Interview Between the Cardinal and Baron von der 
Lancken Regarding the Pastoral Letter, "The Voice 
of God" 300 

XXXI The Deportation of the Unemployed 308 

XXXII Baron von der Lancken again Accuses Certain Priests of 

Having Misused Their Office of Preaching . . . 351 



CONTENTS xvii 

CHAPTER PAGE 

XXXIII National Celebrations in the Churches 354 

XXXIV Removal of Certain Apparatus from the St. Lambert's 

Technical School 361 

XXXV Requisition of Copper 364 

XXXVI The Governor General Requests the Cardinal to Restrict 

the Consumption of Coal in the Churches . . . 366 

XXXVII The Cardinal's Pastoral Letter "Courage, Brethren" 367 

XXXVIII Condemnation of Mgr. Legraive, Auxiliary Bishop of 

Malines, and of M. L'Abbe Allaer 375 

XXXIX Death of Baron von Bissing 379 

XL Baron von Falkenhausen Succeeds Baron von Bissing — 
First Relations of the Cardinal with the Governor 
General 380 

XLI The Cardinal Recommends to Baron von Falkenhausen 
the Religious Interests of Workmen at the Malines 
Arsenal and of Persons Detained on Suspicion . . 382 

XLII The Cardinal's Attitude Toward Partition of Adminis- 
tration 385 

XLIII Arrest of Canon Vrancken, the Cardinal's Private 

Secretary 398 

XLIV The Cardinal Accuses the Occupying Power of Ignoring 
Religious Authority — He Again Insists on Obtaining 
Permission to Send Belgian Priests to Interment Camps 
in Germany 400 

XLV The Governor General Threatens to Seize the Church 

Bells 408 

XLVI The Cardinal Proves that the Scarcity of Agricultural 
Products in Occupied Belgium is Due to the Action of 
the German "Centrals." He Denounces Certain 
Serious Outrages Committed by German Soldiers in 
Churches and Complains of the Support Given by the 
German Authorities to a Campaign Directed Against 
Himself by the "Activists" 416 

XLVH The Cardinal Requests Baron von der Lancken Not to 

Convert the Church of St. Roch, at Hal, into a Hospital 428 



xviii CONTENTS 

CHAPTER PAGE 

XLVIII The Religious Interests of Prisoners Detained in the 

Citadel of Diest 429 

XLIX The Commandeering of Mattresses in the Homes for the 
Aged of the Little Sisters of the Poor — Divine Service 
in the Prison Attached to the Kommandatur at Brussels 43 1 

L The Belgian Bishops Formally Protest Against the Im- 
perial Government's Project to Utilize Certain Catho- 
lic Churches for Protestant Worship 434 

LI Release of Political Prisoners and of the Deported . 437 

LII Protest of the Cardinal Against the Behavior of 

German Troops During their Retreat .... 440 



CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 



CARDINAL MERCIER'S 
OWN STORY 

CHAPTER I 

FIRST RELATIONS OF THE CARDINAL WITH VON BISSING 

Under the government of Von der Goltz (September 
3rd-December 3rd, 1914), there was no interchange of cor- 
respondence between the Cardinal and the Governor Gen- 
eral. Their relations were limited to an exchange of mu- 
tual visits. 

Shortly after the arrival at Brussels of the first German 
Governor, the Cardinal called upon him and asked him to 
intercede with the Imperial Government for the repatria- 
tion, as soon as possible, of the priests and teachers who 
had been deported at the time of the invasion. He drew 
his attention to the fears of the Belgians remaining in the 
country, and of the refugees wishing to return to Belgium, 
who dreaded seeing their young men deported to Germany 
for the purpose, presumably, of being incorporated in the 
ranks of the German army. The Cardinal had already 
started negotiations on this subject with the Governor of 
Antwerp, General von Huene. As a result of these, Von 
Huene had entered into an agreement, applicable to the 
province of Antwerp, according to which, (1) the civic 
guards having laid down their arms would not be molested, 
(2) young men would neither be deported to Germany nor 
in any way pressed into the service of the German army. 
The Cardinal, during the course of his visit, requested Von 

23 



24 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

der Goltz to ratify this agreement, to extend its application 
to the whole country and to guarantee its observance by 
whoever might be his successor. The Governor promised 
to give the Cardinal's wishes his favorable consideration. 

The very next day the Governor General in person went 
to Malines with his reply. He promised to use all the in- 
fluence he could to obtain the repatriation of deported 
priests and teachers. As regards Von Huene's agreement, 
he did not hesitate to ratify it and extend it to the whole 
of Belgium. He was much less explicit about binding his 
successor to any course of action. "We have no use," he 
added, "for young Belgians; their presence in our ranks 
would be a danger to us," The Governor expressed his 
wish to see normal life restored at an early date. The 
Cardinal answered that it was his wish also, but that the 
people were too deeply impressed by the tragic events which 
had marked the beginning of hostilities to allow them to 
feel any confidence. He insisted particularly on the arbi- 
trary proceedings which were responsible for the massacre 
of one hundred and forty victims at Aerschot. This threw 
the General into an embarrassment which he altogether 
failed to disguise. The interview ended with the mutually 
expressed wish to see the schools soon reopened. 

On December 3rd, 19 14, Von der Goltz's place was 
taken by Von Bissing. Hardly had the new Governor been 
appointed, when he realized that the task he had under- 
taken, and which he knew to be a hard one, would be made 
much easier for him if he succeeded in checking the growth 
of any hostility on the part of the Belgian clergy and their 
superiors. But he was wary. He knew how unanimous was 
the feeling of Belgian priests and bishops in face of the in- 
vader ; so to obtain his end he took a roundabout way. In- 
stead of addressing Mgr. Mercier directly, he wrote to 
Cardinal von Hartmann, Archbishop of Cologne, whom he 
had known for a long time, and asked him to intervene in 
his favor with the Belgian primate. 

The following is the letter which he sent to him on the 
day after he took up his new duties : 



RELATIONS WITH VON BISSING 25 

The Governor General of Belgium, 

Brussels, December 4th, 19 14. 
To His Eminence Cardinal von Hartmann, Cologne : 

Your Eminence will have heard, no doubt, of my nomi- 
nation to the post of Governor General of Belgium. It is 
a mission by which I am much honored, but the task which 
I have undertaken by accepting it is in every respect a diffi- 
cult one; it is only natural then that I should try to find 
influential persons who, though they may not be able to sup- 
port me in the fulfillment of this duty, yet will be anxious 
not to increase the difficulties of it. In a large part of 
Belgium the Catholic clergy represent a force whose impor- 
tance cannot be overrated; therefore, I should not wish, 
to ignore negotiating with them and their heads, not only 
in the interests of my mission, but likewise in the interest 
of the country and of the Catholic population. In order to 
pave the way for these relations, I address your Eminence, 
asking you to be so kind as to inform the Cardinal of 
Malines that I should be very pleased to enter into per- 
sonal relations with him, whether it be that he give me an 
opportunity to have an interview with him at Malines, for 
so long as the time at my disposal allows, or that he will 
have the kindness to pay me a visit at Brussels. 

I hope to convince him during our interview that I am 
determined to do all in my power to satisfy the claims of 
the Catholic Church; but, on the other hand, I expect him 
to recognize the earnest wish which inspires me to attach 
supreme importance to alleviating the misery which present' 
circumstances have created in Belgium, though, of course, 
safeguarding at the same time our military interests. I take 
the liberty to inform your Eminence that the head chaplain, 
Doctor Mittendorf, came yesterday; his mission is to super- 
vise and extend the work of the Catholic chaplains and to 
see to it that the spiritual wants of the numerous troops of 
occupation and of the wounded be in no wise neglected. 
The Chaplain General has received the needful instructions 
from the Catholic "Feldprobst"; I have supplemented them 
and, in agreement with his superior, I have recommended 



26 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

him to get into touch with the bishops as soon as possible 
in the course of his tour through Belgium. 

I expect from this line of conduct a twofold result: I 
hope that my intentions and my actions will be in accord 
with the wishes of your Eminence and also promote the 
general weal. 

Wishing to convey to your Eminence my profoundest 
respect, I have the honor to be your Eminence's most de- 
voted servant, 

The Governor General of Belgium, 

(Signed) Baron von Bissing, 

Cavalry General. 

Cardinal von Hartmann hastened to forward to Mgr. 
Mercier the letter of Von Bissing, to which he gave his 
warm support: 

Cologne, December 6th, 19 14. 
To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of Ma- 
lines : 

I take the liberty to forward to your Eminence the letter 
which has been sent to me by the new Governor General 
of Belgium, in which he expresses his wish to have an inter- 
view with your Eminence. I desire to second his request 
as warmly as possible. This interview will assuredly be 
of great use, for the General, whom I have had the honor of 
knowing for a long time, is an intelligent, discreet, just and 
benevolent man, who sincerely feels all he has written in 
his letter, and whose heart's desire will be to respond to 
the wishes of the bishops. 

On my part, I have begged him earnestly to lay to heart 
the following points : 

( 1 ) To allow the Belgian priests who have been found 
innocent and who are now prisoners in German camps to 
return to Belgium. 

(2) To allow the Nunciature free communication with 
the Holy See and with the bishops, likewise free intercourse 
between the latter and Rome. 

(3) To facilitate the immediate publication in Belgium 
of the Encyclical of November 1st. 



RELATIONS WITH VON BISSING 27 

I have acquainted the competent "Armee Bischof" with 
the desires of your Eminence, which I have most earnestly 
indorsed, concerning the spiritual interests of Flemish pris- 
oners. I hope he will manage to satisfy claims which are so 
justifiable.* 

If I can still be of any use to your Eminence in this mat- 
ter, it goes without saying that I am at your service; I am 
also ready to do all in my power to lighten your cares. 

Respectfully kissing your Eminence's hand, I have the 
honor to be your Eminence's devoted servant in the Lord, 

(Signed) Felix Cardinal von Hartmann, 

Archbishop of Cologne. 

The Cardinal did not reply till December 28th to the 
letters of the Governor General and of Cardinal von Hart- 
mann. Von Bissing did not wait for his answer before he 
acquainted him with the fact that the priests who had been 
deported to Germany were to be set at liberty at an early 
date: 

General Government of Belgium Offices, 
Sekt. Ic. No. 456. Brussels, December gth, 19 14. 

To Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of Malines, at Malines: 

Following on the note which has been forwarded to me 
by the head of the civil administration, I have the honor 
to make to your Eminence the following communication: 

The ministry of war at Berlin has given orders to set 
at liberty all priests detained in Germany, provided no 
charge has been made against them; so that I have every 
reason to believe that priests who have duties as teachers 
will return without further delay. 

As regards Count Cornet d'Elzius, I have taken the 
necessary steps with the competent German authorities. I 
shall not fail to let you know the result, f 

The Governor General, 

(Signed) Von Bissing. 

Cavalry General. 

* Note — From the very beginning of the occupation Mgr. Mercier had 
begged Cardinal von Hartmann to use his influence that such prisoners 
might have priests knowing Flemish put at their disposal. 

t Note — The Count Cornet d'Elzius had been arrested for taking up in 
his motorcar an Englishman suspected of spying. 



28 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

In reply to this communication the Cardinal's secretary, 
Very Rev. Canon Vrancken, sent to the Governor General 
a note to call his attention to the fact that his Eminence 
was also interested in lay teachers. 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 

December i6th t 19 14. 

By dispatch dated December 9th, 19 14, Sekt. Ic. No. 
456, His Excellency the Baron von Bissing, Governor Gen- 
eral of Belgium, has been pleased to inform His Eminence 
the Cardinal Archbishop of Malines that by a decision of 
the ministry of war at Berlin the members of the Belgian 
clergy detained in Germany will be set at liberty at an early 
date, on condition that no charge has been made against 
them. 

In consequence, His Excellency expresses the hope that 
ecclesiastics engaged in the duties of teaching will be soon 
set at liberty. 

But it is not in these alone that the Cardinal is inter- 
ested. 

His Excellency had asked, besides this, for the liberation 
of lay teachers in primary schools, whom Belgian military 
law puts on the same footing as members of the clergy. 

The absence of these teachers from the country is caus- 
ing great difficulties in the organization of the people's edu- 
cation. 

On December 16th the Cardinal had at Brussels an in- 
terview with Von Bissing. On the following day the latter 
repaired to Malines, where he was received at the Arch- 
bishop's house. In the course of these two interviews the 
Governor General reiterated the sentiments he had already 
manifested in his letter to Cardinal von Hartmann. He in- 
sisted especially on the desire he entertained to guard the re- 
ligious interests of Belgium, but he expected in return that 
the Belgian clergy and their head on their part would assume 
an attitude, if not friendly, at least conciliatory. He had 
already, he said, obtained the liberation of guiltless priests 
deported to Germany; he now intended to solicit the Im- 



RELATIONS WITH VON BISSING 29 

perial Government for the speedy release of lay teachers. 

In order to show his good-will toward the ecclesiastical 
authorities, he gave the Cardinal every facility to commu- 
nicate with the Belgian suffragan bishops. 

The Cardinal thanked Von Bissing for his benevolent 
attitude, but called his attention to the fact that the Bel- 
gians, whatever might be the feelings of the Governor Gen- 
eral toward them, would not forget the horrors which 
had marked the beginning of the invasion. 

Von Bissing cut him short. He said that he could not 
discuss the conduct of the German army, which, he main- 
tained, was fully justified by the attitude of the Belgian 
people. 

There was discussed also a report of the commander 
at Heidelberg complaining of bad treatment by the Belgians 
of German doctors who were prisoners, and threatening 
reprisals on the Belgian doctors and dispensers, numbering 
about thirty, interned in that town. Von Bissing asked 
the Cardinal to intervene with the Belgian Government to 
put an end to this abuse. 

Lastly, he offered to forward to Cardinal von Hart- 
mann the answer which His Eminence would be pleased to 
give to the letter written by the former on December 6th. 

As a result of these interviews, the Cardinal sent to Von 
Bissing the following letter : 

Archbishop's House, M alines, 

December 2%th, 19 14. 
To His Excellency Baron von Bissing, Governor General, 
Brussels : 

Sir — I have delayed for some time my reply to Cardinal 
von Hartmann's letter under date of December 6th, in 
which my most Eminent colleague conveyed to me the ex- 
pression of your good-will toward Belgium. Your Excel- 
lency has kindly offered to forward my reply, herewith in- 
closed, to its destination. 

Since the above date I have had the honor of entering 
into personal communication with your Excellency, and, as 
the Cardinal of Cologne led me to expect, I can only express 



30 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

myself as satisfied with the dispositions made by your Excel- 
lency in regard to myself and in regard to the matters I had 
the opportunity and the honor to commend to your notice. 

In particular, I thank your Excellency for having noti- 
fied me of the release from imprisonment of the guiltless 
priests deported to Germany, and I trust you will continue 
your efforts to bring about also the release of our school- 
masters, who, as I have had the honor of pointing out to 
your Excellency, cannot be put in the same category as pris- 
oners of war. 

I am thankful to your Excellency for having granted me 
authority to communicate with the suffragan bishops of Bel- 
gium whenever I may judge it useful, and I am gratified 
also to know that you have consented to take steps on be- 
half of Count Cornet d'Elzius, although these steps have so 
far been without result. 

On my own side, I am still desirous of negotiating with 
my Government in order to satisfy the Commandant of 
Heidelberg, who complains of cruelties inflicted on certain 
German doctors and who threatens reprisals, as your Excel- 
lency will remember, on the thirty Belgian doctors and dis- 
pensers interned at Heidelberg. But to render any steps 
of mine effective, I ought to know who these German doc- 
tors are that underwent these indignities and when and 
where they underwent them.* 

Your Excellency has made it your business to assure me 
of the sincerity of your good-will toward Belgium. As a 
soldier, you will understand how anxious I am to give ex- 
pression in my own turn to the feelings with which I am 
animated toward yourself. My esteem for your Excel- 
lency's person, my gratefulness for the care which you 
manifest for the religious interests of the country, are 
deeply sincere, as also is my desire, as far as in me lies, to 
lighten and in no way to aggravate the burden of your 
charge and its responsibilities. Nevertheless, I regard it 
as my strict duty in the interests of truth to add that, no 
matter what the personal dispositions of Baron von Bissing 
may be, the Governor General represents amongst us here a 

* Editor's Note — The Governor General never furnished any details. 



RELATIONS WITH VON BISSING 31 

usurping and hostile nation, in whose presence we assert our 
right to independence and respect for our neutrality. Fur- 
ther, as guardian of the moral and religious interests of 
Belgium, I protest against the acts of injustice and violence 
of which my compatriots have been the innocent victims. 

In the letter to Cardinal von Hartmann, herewith in- 
closed and which I invite your Excellency to read, I, as a 
Belgian citizen and a bishop of the Belgian Church, give 
free rein to the indignation aroused in me by the words 
spoken by the Imperial Chancellor and by his travesty of 
the truth. 

Kindly accept, Governor General, the expression of my 
respect. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

The following is Cardinal Mercier's letter to Cardinal 
von Hartmann inclosed with the foregoing: 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 

December 28th, 1914. 
To His Eminence Cardinal von Hartmann, Archbishop of 
Cologne. 

Most Eminent Lord — The very kind letter dated De- 
cember 6th, with which your Eminence honored me, gave 
me lively pleasure and most sincerely do I thank you for 
the same. 

I greatly appreciated at the time the steps taken by your 
Eminence to secure for the Belgian and French priests im- 
prisoned in Germany the same treatment as is accorded to 
officers. 

Your Eminence's intervention on behalf of the guilt- 
less ecclesiastics imprisoned at Munsterlager and at Celle 
has been successful. All the priests belonging to a religious 
order, except two, have been set free. I have not yet been 
authorized to send priests to minister to our compatriots 
imprisoned in Germany, but your letter to the "Armee 
Bischof" gives me every confidence that on this point also 
we shall at length obtain satisfaction. 



32 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

I had the honor of interviewing at Brussels and of re- 
ceiving later at Malines his Excellency the Governor Gen- 
eral, Baron von Bissing. 

He appeared to me to be all that your Eminence had 
described and such as he represented himself in the letter 
you had the goodness to acquaint me of. I mean that he is 
a man both just and prudent, and truly anxious as well to 
further rather than obstruct the interests of religion in 
Catholic Belgium. He himself has had the kindness to 
inform me of the release of our imprisoned priests, and he 
gives me grounds for expecting the speedy return to free- 
dom of our lay schoolmasters. Further, he has accorded 
me every facility for seeing my fellow bishops. 

In my view, he has accurately defined the terms upon 
which the relations between Belgians and himself become 
possible and desirable. Without expecting to be welcomed 
as a friend, he requests all, more especially the religious 
authorities, not to render his task heavier than it is. On 
this point I am in full accord with the Governor General. 
As in the first days of the war we counseled our faithful 
to refrain from all hostile acts against the enemy's army, 
so now at this moment we recommend them to abide by 
the military regulations in so far as these wound neither 
our consciences as Christians nor our feelings as patriots. 

Nevertheless, it must be clearly understood that, though 
for the moment we thus bend to the yoke of a power which 
is stronger than ourselves, we proudly decline to waive our 
rights or our unshakable confidence in the future. 

It must be stated, furthermore, that the comparative 
good-will shown to us at present in no wise atones for the 
outrages to which Belgians have been so cruelly subjected. 
When the Imperial Chancellor in his speech on December 
2d dared to say, "We shall remember after the war the 
wrongs done to our defenseless compatriots in enemy lands, 
wrongs which clash with all the laws of civilization," he 
went beyond all bounds; and in so far as these words were 
aimed at Belgium he uttered a monstrous lie. 

I am personally acquainted with hundreds who have 
been the victims of wrongs contrary to all the laws of civili- 



RELATIONS WITH VON BISSING 33 

zation and I am in possession of details which would make 
any fair-minded man shudder — horrors indeed which recall 
the pagan persecutions of the three first centuries of the 
Church. I was loath to believe these stories before I per- 
sonally had made an unbiased and now completed investiga- 
tion of them. 

The evidence has been overwhelming; and on my oath 
I affirm that up to the present hour I have been unable 
to establish one single act of savagery inflicted by a Belgian 
civilian on a German soldier, while, on the other hand, I 
am aware of hundreds of acts of cruelty "clashing with all 
the laws of civilization" committed by German soldiers on 
innocent Belgians. Your Eminence will understand that 
patriotism and justice impose upon me the duty to go on 
protesting against these crimes until they have been pun- 
ished; and I will add that if you were in possession of all 
the evidence that I have gathered, your own sense of 
righteousness would compel you to unite your protest to 
ours. 

Accept, Most Eminent Lord, with the expression of my 
thanks, the homage of respect and religious devotedness. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

Editor's Note — Von Bissing refused to forward this letter to its destina- 
tion. He openly admits this in a letter to the Cardinal dated December 31st, 
which is given in full in the chapter dealing with the pastoral "Patriotism 
and Endurance." 



CHAPTER II 

THE CARDINAL ASKS VON BISSING's AUTHORITY TO SEND 

BELGIAN PRIESTS INTO PRISONERS' CAMPS 

IN GERMANY 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 

December 16th, 19 14. 
To His Excellency Baron von Bissing, Governor General 
of Belgium. 

Your Excellency — The numerous Belgian prisoners of 
war in Germany, notwithstanding the priestly care which 
the German clergy may be lavishing on them, are, on ac- 
count of their ignorance of the language, deprived of re- 
ligious succor. 

A sound organization of the care of souls would re- 
quire the sending to Germany, for the term of hostilities, 
of a few Belgian priests conversant with both our national 
languages. 

As your Excellency is concerned about the religious in- 
terests of our people, would you not consent to take steps 
with the Imperial Government to obtain for some of our 
priests authorization to attend to our prisoners? 

For this I should be extremely obliged to you. 

Kindly accept, your Excellency, the expression of my 
highest esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

Editor's Note — This letter remained without an answer. Later von 
Bissing informed the Cardinal that the steps which he had taken at head- 
quarters to comply with His Eminence's request had not been successful. 



34 



CHAPTER III 

SALARIES OF THE CLERGY 

In order to obtain their salaries, the officials of the 
Belgian state who remained at their posts under the German 
occupation had to sign a declaration by which they pledged 
themselves not to undertake or omit anything which could 
embarrass the German administration in occupied Belgian 
territory. The Governor General wanted to subject priests 
to the same formality. The Cardinal fought against this 
energetically; he drew attention to the fact that ministers 
of worship in Belgium are not officials and that their salaries 
were paid them by way of compensation. Von Bissing re- 
plied that he did not share in this view, but that he would 
nevertheless be satisfied with a declaration from the Car- 
dinal that the Belgian bishops had no intention of disturb- 
ing public order. He would consider this pledge as bind- 
ing the whole body of the Belgian clergy. 

The following are the letters exchanged on this subject 
between the Cardinal and the German administration : 

Brussels, December 2%th } 19 14. 
The Chief Administrator Attached to the Governor Gen' 
eral of Belgium. 
Order No. 11a 1057. 
To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Malines. 

I inclose for your Eminence's perusal a copy of a com- 
munication made to the ministry of justice. I would re- 
quest your Eminence to take all the necessary steps to make 
the members of the Catholic clergy sign the declarations 
which are the subject of the inclosed communication. If 

35 



36 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

your Eminence will consent to sign this declaration, I would 
ask you to send it on to me and immediately to notify the 
official whose duty it is to pay you your salary. I, likewise, 
would ask you to carry out these same instructions in the 
case of the higher clergy. 

The declarations of the other ecclesiastics are to be col- 
lected and sent to the competent agent of the treasury and 
to the official in charge of the payment of salaries. 

A list of the names of such ecclesiastics as have signed 
the declaration must be drawn up in the same order as ap- 
pears on the pay list. This list must be sent to me. Your 
Eminence will also be kind enough to compile and forward 
me a list of the ecclesiastics whose salaries are not to be 
paid. 

Concerning the drawing up of the pay lists, I would ask 
your Eminence to come to an understanding with the provin- 
cial presidents of those German civil administrations who 
exercise their functions in your diocese. 

For the Governor General, 
(Signature illegible). 

The following communication was inclosed with the 
preceding letter: 

Brussels, December 2$th, 19 14. 
In view of the fact that ecclesiastical salaries are rela- 
tively small and that, in consequence of the war, a great 
many ministers of worship have had every other source of 
income considerably diminished, I consent to the priests be- 
ing paid their salaries in full, so long as they have not been 
paid from other sources, viz. : in the provinces of Brabant, 
Hainault, Namur, Limbourg, Liege and Luxemburg, from 
September 1st, 19 14, and in the provinces of the two Flan- 
ders and of Antwerp from October 1st. The proposal to 
pay ecclesiastics their salaries even in part from July 1st, 
1 9 14, cannot be entertained, as by this arrangement they 
are already privileged in comparison with all those who are 
ordinarily receiving remuneration from the state; for the 
German Government has only taken in hand the adminis- 



SALARIES OF THE CLERGY 37 

tration of the state revenue of Belgium since September 
1st, for a part of Belgium, and from October 1st for the 
other part. In consequence, it is impossible for it to pay 
the salaries of the preceding months. 

To receive their salaries, ecclesiastics must sign the fol- 
lowing formal pledge : 

"Not to undertake anything against the German admin- 
istration in the occupied Belgian territories and to avoid 
anything that could in any way prejudice its interests." 

Those ecclesiastics who have resigned or who have 
abandoned their posts, or who through force of circum- 
stances are hindered from filling them, shall not receive 
their salaries. The same applies to those who have received 
their salaries from other sources. The ecclesiastics must give 
the agent of the treasury, or the official in charge, a written 
declaration testifying that they have not yet been paid. 

Those ecclesiastics who shall act contrary to their 
pledges will be punished according to the laws of war and 
will be deprived of all further salary. 

I have communicated the present order to His Emi- 
nence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of Malines, to the 
bishops of Bruges, Ghent, Liege, Namur and Tournay, to 
the presidents of the synods of the Protestant churches, to 
the council of administration of the Free Protestant Church, 
to the central committee of the Anglican Church and the 
chief rabbi of Brussels. I have asked them to take the 
necessary steps to collect the declarations of the ministers 
of worship and to hand them over to the officers whose 
duty it is to pay the salaries. 

I inclose with this communication the pay lists of the 
clergy of East Flanders, requesting that the order may be 
carried out. For the other provinces, I have given orders 
to the various presidents of the German civil administration 
to arrange with the ecclesiastical authorities about drawing 
up the pay lists. As soon as these reach me, I will hand 
them over to the minister of justice. 

For the Governor General, 
(Signature illegible). 



38 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 

January 17th, 19 15. 
To His Excellency Baron von Bissing, Governor General, 
Brussels. 

Sir — A communication from your administration in- 
forms us that the German Government of the occupied part 
of the country offers to arrange for the payment of the 
clergy's salaries from September 1st or October 1st, 1914, 
but on condition that the various members of the clergy 
sign a declaration by which they pledge themselves not to 
undertake anything and to refrain from everything which 
might be prejudicial to the German administration. 

Certain considerations which have, I believe, escaped 
the civil administrator's notice will make the juridical and 
legal status of the Belgian clergy clear, and will, I feel sure, 
receive your Excellency's attention. 

First. Ministers of worship are not state functionaries. 

Second. Their salaries are paid them as an indem- 
nity in compensation for confiscated ecclesiastical prop- 
erty. 

The members, therefore, of the clergy neither take an 
oath nor give even a pledge to the Belgian Government, 
but are merely subject, like ordinary citizens, to the gen- 
eral laws of the country. 

First. I said, your Excellency, that ministers of wor- 
ship in Belgium are not public functionaries. 

Our Court of Appeal has explicitly recognized this in 
its decree of March 4th, 1847, in which it affirms that by 
virtue of their office ministers of worship have no execu- 
tive authority, nor do they exercise any. In fact, only those 
can be regarded as such, says the decree, who either directly 
or indirectly are delegated by the law or by the Govern- 
ment to exercise any kind of authority; and ministers of 
religion have certainly no function of this nature. 

Second. I added that the salaries are paid to ministers 
on the ground of indemnity. In the terms of Article 117 
of the Belgian Constitution, "salaries and pensions of min- 
isters of worship are charged to the State; the neces- 



SALARIES OF THE CLERGY 39 

sary sums to meet these are included in each year's 
budget." 

The discussions preceding the framing of this article 
show that the Congress looked upon salaries and pensions 
for the clergy as a compensation on the grounds of in- 
demnity for the ancient privileges of which the Catholic 
Church was deprived at the time of the confiscation of 
ecclesiastical property. 

From the very beginning of our national independence, 
His Highness the Prince de Mean, Archbishop of Malines, 
anxious to guarantee to the Catholic religion that full and 
entire liberty which alone can secure for it peace and pros- 
perity, wrote to the National Congress as follows: "The 
State has appropriated ecclesiastical property only with the 
obligation of providing adequately for the cost of public 
worship and the maintenance of its ministers; as witness 
the first article of the French law of November 2d, 1789. 
The Holy See on its side only ratified the alienation in 
the interests of peace, expressly stipulating that the Gov- 
ernment should undertake to provide the clergy with a 
competent salary, as evidenced both by the 13th and 14th 
articles of the Concordat of 1801, as also by the Bulls 
referring to these. In order to provide against unjust 
preferences and on the plea of these salaries, to prevent 
any agent of the executive power from interfering with 
the free exercise of public worship by bringing to bear 
any illegitimate influence on the opinions and conduct of 
ecclesiastics, it would be needful that the apportionment 
of these subsidies be fixed by law." * 

In fact, the legal Government has never exacted from 
the clergy a declaration antecedent to any payment of sala- 
ries. If the German Government were to exact it, it would 
impose on the clergy a status inferior to that guaranteed 
them by the Belgian Constitution. 

I firmly trust that the Governor General will give his 
fair-minded attention to the views herewith exposed and 
will admit their soundness. 

* See the discussions of the National Congress, by Huyttens, Vol. i, p. 
525. 



40 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

I beg your Excellency to receive the expression of my 
greatest esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

Archbishop' s House, Malines, 

February qth, 19 15. 
To His Excellency Baron von Bissing, Governor General, 
Brussels. 

Sir — Since I have the opportunity,* may I remind your 
Excellency of my letter of January 27th relative to the 
salaries of the clergy? My colleagues in the episcopate, 
whose ideas as well as my own I gave expression to, are as 
anxious as myself to find a solution. When I say my col- 
leagues, I must make a reservation in the case of the 
Bishop of Tournay, who finds it materially impossible to 
communicate his views to us. 

Believe me, your Excellency, I feel sure it is superfluous 
for me to make this declaration that the Belgian bishops 
have no designs against public order. If ever a member 
of the clergy forgot his duty on this point, or if the German 
authorities were to consider him as having done so, we only 
make one request, viz., that the case be brought to the 
notice of the bishop of the diocese to which such a one 
may happen to belong. 

Receive, my dear Governor General, the assurance of 
my very high esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

Governor General of Belgium's Office. 

Brussels, February 17th, 19 15. 
To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Malines. 

I have the honor to acknowledge your Eminence's es- 
teemed letters of January 28th and February 9th. 

I cannot entertain the views which your Eminence puts 
forward in your first letter. It is a question of a measure 
arising out of the war. This measure in no wise affects the 

* Note — His Eminence at the same time was writing to the Governor 
General to intercede on behalf of the cure of Forrieres. (See below.) 



SALARIES OF THE CLERGY 41 

position of the clergy in regard to the State as laid down 
by the Belgian Constitution and Legislature. Moreover, 
it in no wise constitutes a precedent. On the conclusion of 
the war it loses all its force. 

To prove that I was within my rights in subordinating 
the payment of salaries to the signing of the proposed decla- 
ration, I might adduce the fact that already a number of 
the clergy, among them a bishop with all his chapter, have 
professed themselves in agreement with my way of thinking. 

In your very esteemed letter of the 9th instant, your 
Eminence has declared that the Belgian hierarchy disclaims 
any intention of disturbing public order. The maintenance 
of public order constitutes my duty. Since, in view of the 
position of the episcopate in the Catholic Church, I am 
enabled to look upon the declaration of your Eminence as 
binding the whole clergy, I have great pleasure in inform- 
ing you that I waive all claims to a personal declaration 
from each member of the clergy. 

I offer to your Eminence the expression of my highest 
esteem, and I have the honor to be your Eminence's most 
devoted servant. 

(Signed) Freiherr von Bissing, 

Governor General. 

Archbishop' s House, Malines, 

February 19th, 19 15. 
To His Excellency Baron von Bissing, Governor General, 
Brussels. 
I have received the letter with which your Excellency 
honored me on February 17th in answer to my communi- 
cations of January 28th and February 9th. 

Yesterday I had the opportunity of meeting my revered 
colleagues of the Belgian hierarchy at Tournay. They have 
begged me to become their spokesman with your Excellency 
and to express to you our lively satisfaction and our heart- 
felt gratitude. 

Kindly accept the expression of my very high esteem. 
(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 



42 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 

March ist, 19 15. 
To His Excellency Baron von Bissing, Governor General, 
Brussels. 
It has come to my knowledge that your Excellency has 
not received the letter which I had the honor to address 
to you on February 19th. It was, however, sent to you by 
registered post as is proved by the inclosed receipt. 
The following is the text of what I then wrote. 
(Here follows text of the preceding letter.) 
I present again to your Excellency the expression of 
my very high esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

The Governor General of Belgium, 

Brussels, March 377/, 19 15. 
To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of 
Malines. 

In reply to the esteemed letter of your Eminence dated 
the ist of this month, I have the honor to inform you that 
your letter of February 19th reached me in a regular man- 
ner through the post. 

If I have delayed answering, it is because I desired to 
add to the thanks which I owe your Eminence for your 
last letter the announcement that the payment of ecclesiasti- 
cal salaries is secure. I had given orders to the head of 
the administration to advise me of it. It is only today that 
he has informed me that it is an accomplished fact. 

I rejoice to be able to make this communication to your 
Eminence; at the same time I beg you to accept my warm 
thanks for your kind letters of February 19th and March 
ist, as well as my regret for the delay I have taken in 
answering. 

I offer to your Eminence the expression of my highest 
esteem and I have the honor to be your most devoted 
servant. 

(Signed) Freiherr von Bissing, 

Generaloberst. 



CHAPTER IV 

VON BISSING COMPLAINS TO THE CARDINAL ABOUT THE 

MANNER IN WHICH THE FRENCH TREAT GERMAN 

OFFICER PRISONERS 

Office of the Governor General of Belgium. 

Brussels, December 2> lst > I 9 I 4- 
Sekt. Ic. No. 1459. 

To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of 
Malines. 

I have the honor in reply to the esteemed letter ad- 
dressed to my predecessor on November 29th * to make to 
your Eminence the following communication : 

It has often happened that German doctors who have 
been made prisoners by the French have reported on their 
return from captivity the ignominious treatment which had 
been inflicted on German officer prisoners. These reports 
have been communicated to all the Belgian and French 
officer prisoners in Germany in order that they make take 
up the matter with the proper authorities in their respec- 
tive countries with a view to ameliorating the conditions of 
the German officers and thus to avoid eventual reprisals on 
the part of the German Government. These reports have 
been read at the same time to the Belgian ecclesiastics who 
are in the camp at Celle. No measures of reprisals have 
so far been taken. 

I inclose with my letter a copy of one of these reports 
which have arrived here, with the observation that the 
bad treatment which is mentioned therein must have been 
meanwhile mitigated in consequence of diplomatic repre- 
sentations. 

The Governor General. 

(Signed) von Bissing, 

Cavalry General. 

*Note — This letter has never been found. 

43 



44 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

The following note accompanied the Governor's letter: 

The head doctor, Ter Peek, who was a prisoner for 
some time in the camp at Fougeres and who, since his re- 
lease, has been doing duty as head doctor with the regiment 
of the Landwehr, No. 74, reports as follows about the in- 
stallations in that camp and the manner in which German 
officer prisoners are treated there: 

"During their removal from the camp they were exposed 
to the insults of the mob, measures for their protection were 
altogether inadequate. Their military equipment has been 
taken from them — their caps, gaiters, etc. — and instead of 
these they have been given nightcaps and very shabby civil- 
ian clothes. 

"Again, in the camp they were exposed to the jeers 
of the mob; the commandant at the camp is unable to pro- 
tect them. The accommodation leaves much to be desired. 
The rooms cannot be warmed and the officers have to clean 
them out themselves. For beds they have only sacks of straw 
to lie on without any bedclothes. There are no sanitary 
arrangements. Their food is insufficient and of inferior 
quality and yet the officers only receive eighty centimes of 
their pay on the plea that the rest is kept for their main- 
tenance." 

These reports show that it is very urgent that steps 
should be taken to put a stop to this infamous treatment. 

In reply to this letter, the Cardinal asked for details 
which were never forthcoming. 



CHAPTER V 

THE PASTORAL LETTER 
PATRIOTISM AND ENDURANCE 

The sentiments which the Cardinal showed toward Von 
Bissing in his letter of December 28th, 19 14, were ex- 
pressed publicly by him in the pastoral letter of January 
1st, 1915, entitled "Patriotism and Endurance." He rec- 
ommended the faithful to abstain from hostile acts against 
the enemy army, to have that regard for the occupying 
power which the common weal demanded and to respect 
the regulations imposed so long as they did not interfere 
either with liberty of conscience or offend their patriotic 
feelings. But, on the other hand, he solemnly affirmed 
that this power had no legitimate authority and that con- 
sequently they were not bound in their inmost souls to 
show such a power esteem, loyalty or obedience. "The 
only legitimate power in Belgium," he added, "is that which 
belongs to our king, his government and the representatives 
of the nation. He alone has a right to the affection of our 
hearts and to our submission; for us, he alone represents 
authority." 

Copies of this letter, issuing from the press of Mons. 
Dessain, the archbishop's printer, were taken to the various 
deaneries of the diocese by the seminarists leaving Malines 
for the Christmas holidays. A note accompanying the 
pastoral enjoined the priests to read the whole of it to 
the faithful "without omitting or erasing any part of it in 
spite of any orders to the contrary that might be issued by 
any other power." 

In many churches the first part of the letter was read 
on Friday, January 1st. 

45 



46 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

The Cardinal's words, so courageous and so comfort- 
ing, had a tremendous effect, so that the German authori- 
ties intervened without delay. On January 2d, at 6:15 
a. m., three envoys of the Governor General, among them 
Baron von der Lancken, head of the political department, 
presented themselves at the Archbishop's House and asked 
to speak to the Cardinal. 

His Eminence happened to be in the chapel preparing 
to celebrate high mass. They called for him and he went 
to the parlor where the visitors were waiting. 

Von der Lancken began the interview. "Your Emi- 
nence," said he, "we come on behalf of the Governor Gen- 
eral to tell you of his surprise at the pastoral which you 
have issued to the clergy and to the faithful. His Ex- 
cellency thought he had reason to expect from your Emi- 
nence, if not sympathy, at least co-operation in appeasing the 
people. Your Eminence had led him to believe that such 
were your dispositions." 

The Cardinal answered: "You tell me that his Excel- 
lency is astonished. Astonished at what?" 

"At certain passages where your Eminence excites the 
people against Germany." 

"Gentlemen," replied the Cardinal, "you are very much 
mistaken. If you have read my letter, you must agree that 
it is of a pacifying character. But you cannot ignore the 
fact that our people have undergone great sufferings; and 
when our people and our clergy suffer I suffer as much as 
they and it is my duty to tell them so." 

"But there are words which have a tendency to excite 
the people." 

"Have you read the letter?" 

"Yes; you say that one owes neither loyalty nor sub- 
mission to authority." 

"I beg your pardon; I say, on the contrary, that one 
owes loyalty and attachment to legitimate authority. But 
I say that an occupying power is not a legitimate authority; 
to such a power one owes respect and abstention from every 
act of hostility. Moreover, I have not waited for your 
visit to enjoin the faithful to abstain from all hostile acts, 



THE PASTORAL LETTER 47 

for as far back as the month of August I gave instructions to 
this effect and recommended respect for the military 
authorities." 

"Still, there are in the letter words which tend to ex- 
cite them against the German authorities." 

"You must take the letter as a whole and not pick it 
to pieces. Taken as a whole, the letter preaches patience 
and submission so long as the present sufferings last." 

"The Governor wishes to have an explanation." 

"I will give the Governor the explanation he wants. 
Besides I have already written to him. I had reason to 
fear that mutual courtesy between individuals might give 
rise to misunderstandings. I have therefore written to 
him: 'Dear Governor General, I have for you personally 
a profound and sincere esteem. But it must be understood 
that these feelings do not imply the submission of my soul 
to a hostile nation which has invaded our territory.' " 

"As regards this letter, the Governor will not be able 
to let it 'pass.' " 

"It is written and it will remain." 

"But why — " broke in an officer who till then had kept 
silent, "why remind the faithful in your letter of bygone 
events?" 

"Because the conditions under which we live to-day can- 
not make us forget the atrocities which our people have 
endured. And when I preach to them today patience and 
resignation, I cannot affect ignorance of these atrocities." 

"Your Eminence will give the Governor General an 
explanation." 

"When?" 

"We will let you know on your return to Brussels." 

"All right, but I must tell you that tomorrow I shall 
not be free." 

"Your Eminence must hold yourself at the disposal of 
his Excellency the Governor General at whatever day and 
hour he may choose." 

"Gentlemen, I must repeat that tomorrow I am not 
free; I have to preside at a religious function at Antwerp." 

"Has your Eminence already sent out the letter?" 



48 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

"All the cures have received it." 

"Your Eminence has therefore broken the regulation 
which forbids the publication of anything which has not 
been passed by the German censor." 

"I know nothing of this regulation. It might well have 
been made known to me. As I knew nothing about it, I 
have not broken it." 

"Has the letter been read?" 

"It was read yesterday, January ist, in many places; 
in any case, it will be read everywhere tomorrow." 

"In that case," exclaimed Von der Lancken, with a 
look of despair, "we are too late !" 

The visitors withdrew to report to their head, excusing 
themselves for having come at so early an hour. They 
begged his Eminence to hold himself at the Governor's 
disposal. 

In the evening the following telegram came to the 
Archbishop's House : 

Cardinal Mercier, Malines. 

The Governor General begs your Eminence to renounce the journey which 
you intended to make to Antwerp to-morrow. The Governor General. 

On Saturday evening emissaries of the German Gov- 
ernment called on a large number of cures and forbade 
them to continue reading the letter. In a great many pres- 
byteries they got possession of the pastoral by means of 
threats. An official search was made at Mons. Dessain's in 
Malines ; all copies of the letter found on the premises were 
confiscated. Later Mons. Dessain was fined 500 marks. 

On Sunday, January 3rd, in the evening, a German offi- 
cer, accompanied by a soldier, came to obtain information 
from members of the archbishop's household as to whether 
his Eminence had not left the town of Malines that same 
day. The concierga's statement was not enough. He 
wanted, he said, the testimony of his Eminence's secretary 
or of some one immediately attached to his person. Brother 
Egidius, superintendent of the household, came and re- 
assured the officer that his Eminence had not left the city. 
The officer and soldier left without insisting any further. 

On Monday, January 4th, about 7 a. m., one of Von 



THE PASTORAL LETTER 49 

Bissing's adjutants, Captain von Strempel, came to the 
Archbishop's House and handed to the Cardinal the fol- 
lowing letter from the Governor General with a request 
for an immediate reply: 

Office of the Governor General, 
Brussels, December 31st, 19 14. 
January yrd, 19 15. 
To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of 
Malines. 
I have the honor to acknowledge the letter which you 
addressed to me on December 28th. I have noted that your 
Eminence appreciates the spirit with which I am animated 
in the discharge of my duties toward the Belgian people 
and especially in regard to the spiritual and moral inter- 
ests represented by your Eminence. On my side, I appre- 
ciate the sentiments manifested toward myself by your 
Eminence. But I have been painfully surprised by the 
concluding portion of your Eminence's letter, as also by 
the letter addressed by you to Cardinal von Hartmann. 
I have noted that even at this hour your Eminence adopts 
toward the German Government an attitude quite incom- 
patible with the efforts which you are making in helping 
to heal your country's wounds. In the course of our inter- 
view I made it clear to your Eminence that events arising 
out of the necessities of the war and the behavior of the 
Belgian population could form no subject for discussion be- 
tween us. To my great regret, your Eminence finds occasion 
in the letter you addressed to me, as well as in that to Car- 
dinal von Hartmann, to go back to these events. I draw 
your Eminence's attention to the fact that the German 
Government is in possession of a number of proofs justify- 
ing completely the measures taken by the German troops 
against the Belgian people who have acted contrary to all 
international law. Hence I must protest most energetically 
when your Eminence accuses the responsible political au- 
thorities in Germany of lying and when you attack the 
honor of the German army, which has only acted in legiti- 
mate self-defense. Your Eminence must recognize with me 



5 o CARDINAL" MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

that so long as you believe yourself justified in expressing 
such ideas and sentiments, and even in maintaining them 
after my explanation, it is quite impossible for me to grant 
you the facilities for traveling which you request ; for now, 
I cannot see any common ground on which we can work to- 
gether with mutual confidence in the interests of the Belgian 
people. Neither can I transmit to its destination the letter 
which your Eminence has handed to me for Cardinal von 
Hartmann. It is impossible for me to forward a criticism 
so unjustifiable and so offensive to the higher authorities, 
both of the German Empire and of the German army. I 
return this letter to your Eminence. 

At the moment of dispatching this letter your Emi- 
nence's pastoral has been brought to my notice. It has 
caused me a most disagreeable surprise. I must decline to 
make a detailed pronouncement on its contents, for no one 
can measure the results of the action taken by your Emi- 
nence, nor do I believe myself authorized alone to take 
the measures necessary to repair the harm done by this 
letter and at the same time to safeguard the rights and 
dignity of the German Government. First of all, in the 
interests of preserving good relations with the Belgian 
clergy, so sincerely desired by myself, I have waived my 
right to proceed against the priests, who, in circulating and 
in reading the pastoral, have merely obeyed the instruc- 
tions of their archbishop. On the other hand, I have or- 
dered the confiscation of copies of the letter which were 
found at the printing works, and I have decreed penalties 
against any one circulating them. It is clear that the read 
ing of the letter has already provoked an agitation among 
the Belgian people. If graver events should result there- 
from, your Eminence alone would have to bear all the 
responsibility. I am obliged to request your Eminence to 
at once forbid your clergy to read and to circulate your 
pastoral. 

I beg your Eminence to answer by return of post the 
following questions : 

(i) What relations has your Eminence had after the 
occupation of the country by German troops with the King 






THE PASTORAL LETTER 51 

of the Belgians, and in particular with the King of Eng- 
land? 

(2) Through what channel have these communications 
been maintained? 

(3) What are the legal grounds on which your Emi- 
nence rests to ordain days of penance in accordance with 
a desire manifested by the King of England? (See the 
communication in Latin to the clergy, Vol. 113, part 3, 
dated Malines, Christmas, 1914.) 

The bearer of this letter has orders to await your Emi- 
nence's reply and to bring it back to me. 

I offer your Eminence the expression of my very high 
esteem and I have the honor to be your Eminence's devoted 
servant. 

(Signed) Freiherr von Bissing, 

Governor General. 

The Cardinal observed to Von Strempel that an answer 
to such a document required reflection and this he could 
not give immediately; he begged him to return the same 
evening. The captain answered that his orders were not 
to leave the Archbishop's House without a reply. The 
Cardinal fruitlessly insisted that he should have time given 
him to work out his reply. The officer again and again re- 
joined: "I am in no hurry; I will wait." At a certain 
moment, as he seemed loath to let the Cardinal out of his 
sight, the latter said, "Use your liberty; I give you my word 
of honor that I shall not run away. Do you take me for 
a brigand?" 

Finally, about 1 1 o'clock, his Eminence handed to Von 
Strempel the subjoined letter, begging him instantly to re- 
quest the Governor's permission by telephone to return to 
Brussels and come again for the answer about 6 p. m. 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 
January \th y 19 15, 11 o'clock a. m. 
To His Excellency the Governor General Baron von Biss- 
ing, Brussels. 
Your Excellency — I am in receipt of the letter your ad- 
jutant, Captain von Strempel, did me the honor to deliver 



52 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

from your Excellency and I am anxious to reply to it as 
soon as possible. Your Excellency must, however, allow me 
time for reflection before doing so. The greater part of 
the morning has been spent by your obliging delegate in 
copying the document. I shall have to study it at my leisure. 
I expect, however, to complete the required reply this eve- 
ning. With your Excellency's approval, your adjutant might 
return for it this evening at 6.* 

Accept, Excellency, the expression of my sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

At this point some of his friends near him pressed the 
Cardinal to parry the blows that threatened him. He was 
advised, if not to withdraw the pastoral, at least to tone 
down some of its directness. Had the Cardinal the right 
to expose his priests to all the perils of a violent repression? 
In the general interests, would it not be better to give proof 
of a conciliatory spirit? Was it not sheer rashness to ex- 
pose his own person to imprisonment, exile, or even a 
worse penalty? The severance of the pastor from his 
flock, would it not lay the diocese and the whole country 
open to perils of the gravest kind? 

This was a critical hour. 

After taking counsel of his immediate entourage, the 
Cardinal took time to reflect alone. He went to his private 
oratory to meditate and pray; then came back and drew 
up the following letter in which he declares that his act 
was fully deliberate and that he refuses either to disown 
or withdraw it: 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 
January 4th, 1915, 6 p. in. 
To Baron von Bissing, Governor General, Brussels. 

Your Excellency — The letters with which your Excel- 
lency has honored me dated December 31st, 19 14, and 
January 3rd, 1915, embrace three parts. 

The first part refers to my correspondence of December 

*Note — The Governor General's answer was negative. Von Strem- 
pel was to await the Cardinal's answer at Malines itself. 



THE PASTORAL LETTER 53 

28th last, both with your Excellency and his Eminence 
Cardinal von Hartmann. Your Excellency was kind 
enough to appreciate the mark of esteem which I had 
the opportunity of showing you. You remind me that you 
had expressed a desire to further the religious and moral 
interest with which I have been intrusted, also to relieve 
the sufferings of our people ; and yet your Excellency seems 
persuaded that instead of falling in with your views I have 
taken up an attitude toward the German Government which 
to you is incompatible with this praiseworthy ideal. 

Your Excellency is of the opinion that past events with 
their sad echoes still resounding within the soul of Belgium 
ought not to form the subject of either oral or written com- 
munications between us, and it seems you are surprised that 
even in private letters I have recalled these events and 
have also passed judgment upon them. 

I appreciate fully your Excellency's anxiety to ward 
off further strife from our country, already so sorely tried, 
and no one acquiesces in this wish of yours more heartily 
than myself. Still, if by mutual co-operation we desire our 
work to have a durable character, our joint efforts must 
not rest on an equivocal basis. Duly impressed by the need 
of candor, I made a point of drawing a distinction between 
the personal relations of courtesy and mutual good-will I 
had the honor of cultivating with Baron von Bissing and 
those other relations which were demanded by my position 
toward the representative of a nation with whom we have 
the misfortune to be at war. I was encouraged by the hope 
that the clearness of my words would be welcomed, and 
I was certainly far from anticipating that it would involve 
the withdrawal of the general pass you granted me. 
Nevertheless, I bow to your decision. Hitherto, as a mat- 
ter of fact, I have not gone beyond the limits of my dio- 
cese ; nor shall I go beyond them in future. 

The second part of your Excellency's dispatch refers 
to my pastoral letter. First of all, I am grateful to your 
Excellency for your decision to withdraw the prosecution 
of those priests who have read my letter from the pulpit 
as they were instructed to do. In doing this they acted in 



54 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

obedience to their bishop. He alone is responsible for the 
orders he gives to his clergy. You seem, sir, apprehensive 
of a possible disturbance resulting from the public reading 
of my pastoral and you draw my attention to possible un- 
pleasant consequences among the people. Allow me to 
inform you that you little understand the devotedness of 
my people. If in addressing them I had in any way con- 
cealed my views or had tried to force them into submission, 
they might have kicked against my orders. But my words 
to them were those of a father who trusts his children. 
I told them that I realized their sufferings and by virtue 
of this very knowledge was able to sympathize with them. 
I expounded to them in its entirety the gospel teaching on 
their relations with that power which for the time being 
was in occupation of a part of their country. I told them 
this: "Whatever feelings you may harbor within your in- 
most souls, you are bound, as far as your conscience and 
noble patriotism will allow, to comply in your external con- 
duct with the regulations of the Government in occupation. 
Outwardly you are to obey the aforementioned decrees; 
nay more, it is the legitimate authority of your own gov- 
ernment, in tacitly approving of them out of regard it has 
for the interests of public order, that obliges you to respect 
them." 

As a Belgian, I understand my fellow-countrymen; and 
as a bishop I am well acquainted with my children; and 
I can therefore guarantee, Sir, that the public peace will 
not be disturbed if you forbid your subordinates to indulge 
in any further noisy demonstrations such as occurred in a 
considerable number of peaceful villages during the night 
of January 3rd. 

If, on the other hand, you cannot see your way to allow 
me full freedom to influence my clergy and people by moral 
suasion alone ; if, yielding to your personal fears, you have 
recourse to methods of intimidation, I shall no longer be 
able to answer, with the same assurance, for the main- 
tenance of public order, and in that case I shall not require 
my clergy to resume the reading and the dissemination of 
my pastoral in defiance of your interdiction. 



THE PASTORAD LETTER 55 

Lastly, in the third part of your letter, your Excellency 
asks me about my relations with my own king and the King 
of England, and desires to be informed why, in conformity 
with the wish expressed by the King of England, I should 
have exhorted the faithful of my diocese to make January 
3rd a special day of prayer. Frankly, your Excellency, 
these questions astonish me. The acts of one's private life, 
unless I am mistaken, are outside the jurisdiction of all 
governments, and consequently I feel justified in requesting 
your Excellency to assure me of the exact purport of your 
question. Does your Excellency claim the right to inter- 
fere with my private intercourse with my own sovereign, or 
with foreign rulers? This is not the first time I have or- 
dered a day of prayer. My venerable episcopal colleagues 
in Austria, France and Germany have all acted in like man- 
ner. We have each and all been fired by the same desire 
to call down the blessing of God on our countries. This 
also I may add : That I have had no difficulty in becoming 
acquainted with the King of England's wish in this matter. 
A circular published by his Eminence Cardinal Bourne, 
Archbishop of Westminster, was sent to thousands of our 
Belgian refugees living at present in the United Kingdom. 
Many copies have reached me, but at the present moment 
I cannot put my hand on one of these circulars. I hope 
shortly to be able to find one and to forward it to your 
Excellency. 

Accept, Excellency, the expression of my high esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

The next day, January 5th, the Cardinal sent to Von 
Bissing the following supplementary note : 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 

January $th, 19 15. 
To His Excellency Baron von Bissing, Governor General, 
Brussels. 
Your Excellency — I have the honor to inclose the 
pamphlet to which I referred in my letter of yesterday 
evening. 



56 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

An error of date has crept into my letter. You must 
read, "During the night of January 2d-January 3rd." 

I said yesterday that I could hardly see the drift of 
the question your Excellency put me in the third part of 
your letter. I think, on reflection, that your Excellency 
wished to know whether or not I had been influenced by 
considerations outside my pastoral office. I insist that my 
pastoral, both in letter and in spirit, is exclusively my work. 
I have taken the whole responsibility on myself. 

I deeply regret having left the letter of Cardinal von 
Hartmann, dated December 6th, without a reply; and at 
present I find myself deprived of any direct means of com- 
municating with him. Perhaps your Excellency will see your 
way to dispatch the subjoined letter after perusal. If you 
should find any difficulty, I beg you to take no notice of my 
request. 

Receive, Excellency, the expression of my sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

With this letter was inclosed the printed notice in which 
Cardinal Bourne announced that January 3rd should be 
observed as a day of penance. 

Archbishop' s House, Westminster, S. W. 

December 15th, 19 14. 
Day of Humble Prayer and Intercession 
You know already that, by the desire of His Majesty 
the King, the first Sunday of the New Year, January 3rd, 
which is also the Feast of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, 
will be kept throughout the country as a day of humble 
prayer and intercession to beg God's blessing upon the 
empire and the allied nations in these days of terrible con- 
flict with our enemies, and to implore His divine consolation 
for those who thereby are exposed to anxiety, suffering and 
sorrow. Those who have already given their lives in the 
struggle will have their own special place in our supplica- 
tion. The bishops, clergy and faithful of the Church in 
France will be united with us in this great public and in- 



THE PASTORAL LETTER 57 

ternational act of intercession, and we know that our breth- 
ren in Belgium will be joined with us in heart and intention. 

The following letter was at the same time handed to 
Von Bissing, with a request to forward it to its destination. 

Archbishop' s House, Malines, 

January ^th, 19 15 
To His Eminence, the Right Reverend von Hartmann, 
Archbishop of Cologne. 
Most Eminent Lord — Tardily, yet very sincerely, I 
thank your Eminence for your letter of December 6th last 
and for the very kind steps which you had the goodness 
to take on behalf of our priests and of our prisoners. 

The special circumstances on which I prefer not to dwell 
do not allow me to say any more to your Eminence today. 

United in prayer that in all things and in every way 
the will of God may be accomplished, I remain your Emi- 
nence's humble and devoted servant. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

The Governor General confined himself to replying by 
a simple acknowledgment. 

Governor General's Office, Brussels, 

January 6th, 19 15. 
To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of 
Malines. 
I have the honor to acknowledge the esteemed letter of 
your Eminence, dated yesterday, together with the pamph- 
let which you had the kindness to inclose with it and the 
letter which you have addressed to my very esteemed friend, 
Cardinal von Hartmann. It will be a great pleasure to me 
to forward the letter to its destination. 

I avail myself of the occasion to forward to your Emi- 
nence a letter which Cardinal von Hartmann has asked me 
to transmit to you. 

I offer to your Eminence the expression of my sincere 
esteem, and have the honor to be your very devoted servant, 
(Signed) Baron von Bissing, 

Governor General. 



58 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

On January 7th the Governor General addressed a 
printed circular to all the priests of the diocese of Malines, 
of which the following is a translation : 

Governor General's Office, 
Brussels, January *]th, 19 15. 
To the Clergy of the Diocese of Malines : 

Following upon representations which I addressed to 
him on the subject of his pastoral letter, the effect of which 
in my opinion is of a nature to disturb and excite the public 
mind, Cardinal Mercier has declared to me by word of 
mouth and in writing that such had never been his inten- 
tion and that he had never expected his letter to produce 
such an effect. He says he has above all in view to show 
the people the necessity of submission to the power of 
occupation, even in the case where a Belgian, animated by 
his deep-rooted patriotic feelings, might feel inclined to 
oppose the German administration. 

The Cardinal has added that in case I feared his pas- 
toral might disturb the public mind, he would not insist 
on forcing his priests, as he does at the end of his letter, 
to continue the reading of it on the following Sundays and 
to distribute it from house to house as well. 

I have some fear of this kind. 

I, therefore, renew my prohibition of January 2d to 
read and to distribute his pastoral. I would observe to 
the clergy that in the case of infringement of this order 
they will be opposing the Cardinal's intentions as expressed 
to me in writing. 

(Signed) Baron von Bissing, 

Governor General. 

At the same time the Governor General published 
through the Censored Press the following note : 

Brussels, January Sth. 
"His Eminence Mgr. Mercier, in accordance with an 
ancient custom, addressed to the faithful of his diocese for 
the feast of Christmas a pastoral letter in which he partly 
treats of the great political events of recent date. The 
foreign press has gi^en inaccurate accounts of it and among 



THE PASTORAL LETTER 59 

other things has alleged that in consequence of this pastoral 
the Cardinal has been imprisoned in his place at Malines 
by German officers and even that he has been already ar- 
rested. The Governor General declared officially that both 
these reports are devoid of all foundation. He has never 
dreamt of interfering with the liberties of the Prince of the 
Church in the exercise of his ecclesiastical functions. The 
pastoral, however, contained passages offensive to Ger- 
many, and though it was impossible for the German authori- 
ties to ignore them, yet, out of regard for the sacredness 
of the place and to avoid wounding the feelings of the faith- 
ful, the reading of the pastoral has not been prevented by 
force. The Governor General, in virtue of his decree of 
October 13th, 19 14, which formally subjects all printed mat- 
ter to the censorship of the Governor General, has confined 
himself to disciplinary measures demanded by the situation. 
The printer entrusted with the printing and distribution of 
the pastoral has accordingly been proceeded against for his 
infraction of the forementioned decree, and the copies 
found at his establishment have been sequestrated. 

"In the course of correspondence with the Governor 
General the Cardinal has declared that, having regard to the 
opinion of the Governor General on the probable effect of 
its reading, he abstained from compelling the clergy to 
read the pastoral and to distribute it from house to house." 

(Extract from the newspaper La Belgique, No. 64, 
January 9th, 1915.) 

This communication of Von Bissing to the clergy of 
the diocese and to the censored press is a masterpiece of 
hypocrisy. While the Cardinal, trusting in the patriotic ini- 
tiative of his clergy, had only declared that he would not 
renew the order intimated above, the Governor General 
leads one to understand that the Cardinal, in order to avoid 
all difficulty, desires that the clergy should refrain from 
the public reading and distribution of the pastoral. 

This clever maneuver had not the result expected of 
it by Von Bissing. On Saturday, January 9th, Mgr. Ever- 
ard. dean of St. Gudule, went to the Cardinal and soon 



60 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

found out the snare which had been laid for the clergy of 
the diocese. Of this he forthwith by letter informed the 
cures of the deanery of St. Gudule and all the deans of 
the Brussels district. The report of this letter spread 
everywhere like wildfire, and in all the churches the reading 
of the letter was continued on Sunday, January ioth. 

The following is the letter which Mgr. Everard ad- 
dressed to the Cardinal a few days later: 

Eminence — On Saturday, January 9th, I wrote to all 
my parish priests and to the rural deans of the district: 

"I have just returned from Malines. 

"Notwithstanding the written prohibition circulated last 
evening, his Eminence the Cardinal wishes his letter to be 
read. This written prohibition is deceptive and false. 

" 'Neither by word nor in writing have I withdrawn 
anything, and at this moment I withdraw nothing of my 
previous instructions, and I protest against the violence 
which is done to the freedom of my pastoral office.' 

"Such are the words dictated to me by the Cardinal. 

"He added furthermore: 'Everything has been done to 
make me sign some modification of my letter. I have not 
signed them. Now it is sought to separate the clergy from 
me by preventing them from reading the letter. I have 
done my duty: my clergy will know how to do theirs,' 

"Receive, my dear cure, the testimony of my respect." 

Both in the town and in the outskirts on Sunday, Janu- 
ary ioth, the pastoral was read at all masses and produced 
an excellent effect. 

The reading took place without incident, opposition or 
protest. Only at Sublant, after the reading of the letter 
by the cure, M. Richard, did two officers accompany him 
to the sacristy and there tell him it had been forbidden to 
read the letter. His reply that he had only obeyed the 
order of his superior closed the incident. 

There was naturally some excitement for the moment, 
but this disappeared almost immediately. 

Up to now, nobody has interfered with us. 



THE PASTORAL LETTER 61 

Will your Eminence accept the expression of my pro- 
found esteem? 

(Signed) Edward Everard. 

On January i ith, the Cardinal addressed to his clergy 
a letter in Latin of which the following is a translation: 

M alines, Sunday Within the Octave of the Epiphany, 19 15. 
Very Reverend Fathers and Most Dear Fellow Workers: 

You are acquainted, I believe, with a notice of the Gov- 
ernor General of Belgium published in the papers stating 
that the Cardinal Archbishop of Malines has in no wise 
been hampered in the free discharge of his ecclesiastical 
office. The facts themselves disprove the truth of this 
assertion. 

As a matter of fact, on the evening of January 1st and 
throughout the whole of the following night, German offi- 
cers entered the presbyteries and carried off or tried vainly 
to wrench from the priests' hands the pastoral, and in de- 
fiance of episcopal authority forbade you to read it to your 
congregations, threatening you or your parish with the 
direst penalties. 

Even our dignity was not respected, for on January 
2d, before daybreak at 6 o'clock, I received the order to 
go immediately that same morning and explain to the Gov- 
ernor General my letter to the clergy and the people. The 
following day I was forbidden to give benediction in the 
Cathedral at Antwerp. I have been forbidden to visit the 
other Belgian bishops. 

As a citizen, as a shepherd of souls, and as a member 
of the sacred college of Cardinals, I protest, my dear fellow 
workers, that your rights as well as mine have been violated. 

Whatever may be alleged to the contrary, experience 
has proved that this pastoral letter has provoked no occa- 
sion for sedition, but, on the contrary, it has contributed 
largely to the appeasing of the people's minds and to public 
tranquillity. 

I congratulate you on having fulfilled your duty with 
firmness and moderation. Continue faithful, keeping up a 
stout yet pacific heart, remembering the words in which 



62 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

I have already explained to you my mind clearly and en- 
tirely: "Be at the same time the best guardians of patriot- 
ism and the supporters of public order." 

As for the rest, be "in spirit fervent, serving the Lord, 
rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, instant in prayer, 
communicating to the necessities of the saints." (Romans 
xii, n-13.) 

I beg you, do not forget me in your prayers; on my 
part, I shall not forget you in mine. Altogether, united 
by the close ties of brotherhood, let us commend to the 
Lord, the bishops, the clergy and the faithful "that they 
may see their duty and may have the strength to fulfill it." * 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

The deans are requested to give an account of all that 
has taken place in the parishes of their deaneries. 

N. B. — For some time some ecclesiastics have affected 
lay attire; they are requested to resume from now on ec- 
clesiastical dress. 

The incidents provoked by the reading of the pastoral 
became known in other countries. Mr. Schreiner, the cor- 
respondent of the Associated Press of America, sent a tele- 
gram to the Cardinal, through the German authorities, re- 
questing detailed information of his treatment by the 
German authorities. This telegram was delivered by the 
Kreischef of Malines: 

The Kreischef Office, Malines, 

January gth, 1915* 
To the Cardinal Archbishop of Malines. 

By order of the Governor General I have the honor to 
forward to your Eminence the following telegram which 
was received by the Governor General with the request to 
communicate it to you. 

♦Collect for the Sunday within the Octave of the Epiphany. 



THE PASTORAL LETTER 63 

To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier. 

It has been rumored that your Eminence has been ar- 
rested, together with certain other persons who have co- 
operated in the dissemination of the pastoral letter. This 
report has produced a deep impression throughout America. 
For this reason I have been charged by the managers of the 
Associated Press to get into personal communication with 
your Eminence and to receive from you details of the alleged 
bad treatment to which you have been subjected. If your 
Eminence be agreeable, I beg you to inform me at the Amer- 
ican Embassy at The Hague what can be published of your 
present position. 

With kindest regards. 

(Signed) George Schreiner, 

Correspondent of the Associated Press of America. 

In case your Eminence deems it expedient to reply to 
this telegram, I place myself at your disposal to transmit 
your reply. 

The Kreischef, 
(Signed) G. von Wengersky, 

Colonel. 

The Cardinal sent the following note to the Kreischef 
with his answer to Mr. Schreiner's telegram : 

Cardinal Mercier presents to the Count Wengersky the 
expression of his high esteem and begs him to be good 
enough to forward the inclosed answer to the correspondent 
of the Associated Press of America : 

George Schreiner, 

Correspondent of the Associated Press of America, 
American Legation, The Hague. 
In reply to your telegram I regret to have to declare 
that a number of priests have had to submit to the viola- 
tions of their homes, threats of fines or imprisonment and 
arrest. The printer of the pastoral letter was condemned 
to a fine of 500 marks. Myself received January 2d 6 



64 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

o'clock morning three officers who brought me an order 
to remain at the disposal of Governor General; Sunday, 
January 3rd, received by telegram Governor General's pro- 
hibition to go to Antwerp to preside at religious ceremony. 

Shall be obliged to you for acknowledging receipt of 
my wire. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

The Governor General refused to send the Cardinal's 
wire. He sent one of his emissaries to invite his Emi- 
nence to tone down the text of his answer to the correspon- 
dent of the Associated Press. The Cardinal refused ener- 
getically, declaring that what he affirmed expressed the 
bare truth. As he was not allowed to answer explicitly 
the questions asked of him by Mr. Schreiner, his Emi- 
nence confined himself to sending him, through the chan- 
nel of the Kreischef of Malines and of the Governor Gen- 
eral, the following answer: 
George Schreiner, 

Correspondent of the Associated Press of America, 
American Legation, The Hague. 

I quite understand the sympathy you wish to manifest 
toward me and I thank you for it; but I prefer for the pres- 
ent not to dwell on the vexatious proceedings to which you 
refer and to continue to confine myself to my duties as a 
bishop. 

I repeat, however, that I have withdrawn and shall 
withdraw nothing of my pastoral letter. 

(Signed) Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 



CHAPTER VI 

PROPOSAL FOR AN INQUIRY ABOUT PRIESTS IN THE DIOCESE 
OF MALINES PUT TO DEATH BY GERMANS 

Toward the end of 19 14 and at the beginning of 19 15 
the German Government established in Belgium various 
commissions of inquiry, composed entirely of imperial offi- 
cials, whose object was to proclaim to the whole world that 
the German army was innocent of the crimes of which it 
had been accused by its enemies, and if now and then severe 
measures of repression had to be taken they must be ascribed 
solely to the brutal and savage conduct of the Belgian folk. 
The result of these one-sided inquiries appeared in a White 
Book, which will remain for future generations one of the 
most convincing witnesses of the duplicity, insolence and also 
of the folly of Prussian militarism. 

The Kreischef of Malines proved himself a worthy rep- 
resentative of his Government. Pretending that he had 
learned from a newspaper article that priests of the diocese 
of Malines had been killed, though he knew by the Christ- 
mas pastoral letter the assertion of the Cardinal that thir- 
teen members of the clergy had perished as victims of Ger- 
man barbarity, he communicates to his Eminence his scheme 
for an inquiry in the following terms : 

The Kreischef, Malines, 
No. 268/11. January 20th, 1915. 

To His Eminence the Cardinal, Archbishop of Malines. 

According to a newspaper article, several guiltless priests 
have been killed in the diocese of Malines. 

In order to be able to start an inquiry, I beg your Emi- 
nence to be so kind as to let me know if this information 
be correct, and if the answer is in the affirmative to supply 
me with the names of the victims. 

65 



66 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

I should very much like to know under what circum- 
stances these priests have been killed and which troops in- 
curred the guilt of these crimes and on what date these 
events came to pass. 

The Kreischef, 
(Signed) G. von Wengersky, 

Colonel. 
The Cardinal answered without delay: 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 

January 24th, 19 15. 
To the Count von Wengersky, Kreischef, Malines. 

Sir — I have the honor to acknowledge the letter 268/1 1, 
bearing date January 20th, which you have had the kindness 
to send me. 

The names of the priests and religious of Malines dio- 
cese who to my knowledge have been put to death by Ger- 
man troops are the following: Dupierreux, of the Society 
of Jesus; the Brothers Sebastian and Allard, of the Con- 
gregation of Josephites; Brother Candide, of the Congre- 
gation of Our Lady of Mercy; Father Maximin, a Capu- 
chin; Father Vincent, a minor conventual; Carette, a 
teacher; Lombaerts, Goris, De Clerck, Dergent, Wouters, 
Van Blaedl, parish priests. 

On Christmas Day, when I published my pastoral let- 
ter, I did not yet know with certainty what had been the 
fate of the cure of Herent; since then his body has been 
found at Louvain and identified. 

Other figures quoted by me in my pastoral letter ought 
now to be added. For instance, for Aerschot I gave the 
number of victims as ninety-one, but the total of Aerschotois 
dug up now reaches 143. However, the time has not yet 
come to insist on these detailed facts. Their enumeration 
will come to light in the inquiry which you lead me to expect. 

It will be a consolation to me to see full light thrown 
upon events which I had to recall in my pastoral letter and 
on others of the same kind. 

But it is indispensable that the results of the inquiry 
should appear to all with an authority beyond dispute. 

With this end in view, I have the honor to propose to 



! 



PRIESTS PUT TO DEATH BY GERMANS 67 

you, my dear Count, and to the German authorities through 
your kind intervention, that the Commission of Inquiry be 
composed equally of German delegates and Belgian magis- 
trates to be appointed by our Chief Justice, the whole to 
be presided over by the representative of a neutral country. 
I cherish the hope that his Excellency the Minister of the 
United States would not refuse to preside either himself or 
through a delegate of his own choice. 

Accept, I beg you, dear Kreischef, the assurance of my 
sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

On February 2d the Kreischef summoned one of the 
Vicars General. Mgr. Van Roey went to the Komman- 
dantur at n a. m. He found himself in the presence of 
an adjutant, who asked him the following questions : At what 
place had priests been killed ? What day ? By what troops ? 
Do you aver that they were innocent ? 

Mgr. Van Roey replied that he had not been directly 
concerned in the project for an inquiry, but that, as far 
as he knew, his Eminence had corresponded about this mat- 
ter with the Governor General or with the Kreischef. 

"Yes," replied the adjutant, "we have here his Emi- 
nence's letter. The Governor General has taken cognizance 
of it and has sent it to us with annotations. We do not 
wish to disturb his Eminence again ; we had hoped that you 
could provide the information we desire." 

The interview ended by Mgr. Van Roey's declaring that 
all he could do was to submit to the Cardinal the Kreischef 's 
wishes. 

The very next day the latter addressed to Mgr. Van 
Roey the following letter: 

The Kreischef, Malines, 

February 3rd, 19 15. 
To Mgr. the Vicar General of His Eminence the Cardinal, 
Malines. 
Monsignor — I should be obliged if you would fix some 
precise date on which I may expect an answer to the ques- 



68 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

tions I put you concerning the priests shot in the diocese of 
Malines. 

The Kreischef, 
(Signed) G. von Wengersky. 

Mgr. Van Roey replied immediately: 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 

February \th, 1915. 
To Count von Wengersky, Kreischef, Malines. 

Sir — I had the honor to hand to his Eminence the Car- 
dinal Archbishop the demand for information which the 
adjutant has made regarding the priests shot in the diocese 
of Malines. 

His Eminence tells me that to an identical inquiry which 
was addressed to himself personally he replied in his letter 
of January 24th last. I deem, therefore, that it is no 
business of mine to meddle in a matter which the Cardinal 
has already taken in hand himself. 

Please accept, sir, the expression of my sincere esteem. 

(Signed) Ern. Van Roey. 

Following on this declaration of Mgr. Van Roey's, the 
Kreischef addressed another letter to the Cardinal himself. 

The Kreischef of Malines, 

February StTi, 19 15. 
To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Malines. 

I should be much obliged if your Eminence would fix a 
date for receiving my adjutant. He is commissioned to ask 
your Eminence for precise details regarding the priests of 
the diocese of Malines who were shot. 

I beg your Eminence to acept the expression of my deep 
respect and I have the honor to be your devoted servant, 
(Signed) G. Von Wengersky, 

Colonel and Kreischef. 

The Cardinal replied, fixing the interview for February 
9th, but his letter was delivered to the Kreischef after some 
delay so that the adjutant was unable to present himself 
at the Archbishop's House on the appointed day. Von 
Wengersky told the Cardinal of it: 



PRIESTS PUT TO DEATH BY GERMANS 69 

The Kreischef of Malines, 

February gth } 19 15. 
To His Eminence the Cardinal Archbishop of Malines. 

To my great regret, I have to inform your Eminence 
that, as the result of a mistake, your letter was not deliv- 
ered to me till 2 o'clock this afternoon. My adjutant has 
therefore been unable to proceed to your palace at the time 
mentioned. 

If convenient to your Eminence, he will present himself 
tomorrow at the same hour. 

I beg your Eminence to excuse this mistake and to ac- 
cept the expression of my profound esteem. 

(Signed) G. Von Wengersky, 

Colonel and Kreischef. 

This letter from the Kreischef crossed the following 
from the Cardinal: 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 

February gth, 19 15. 
To the Count Wengersky, Kreischef, Malines. 

Dear Count — I am afraid you did not receive my letter 
this morning in time to enable you to see your adjutant. 
I hasten therefore to inform you that I shall be delighted 
to receive your delegate tomorrow, Wednesday, at 4 p. m. 
(5I1. German time) . However, to prevent his taking a step 
which he might believe fruitless, I think it my duty to warn 
you that as regards the priests of my diocese shot by Ger- 
man troops, I refer to my letter of January 24th, last. 

Accept, my dear Count, the assurance of my sincere 
esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

On February 10th, at the appointed hour, the adjutant, 
Von Fleming, presented himself at the Archbishop's House 
and renewed the questions already put to him by the Kreis- 
chef. His Eminence answered them in writing. The fol- 
lowing is the text of his reply signed by himself and the 
adjutant : 



70 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

The adjutant, Von Fleming, asks me in the name of the 
Governor General: 

(i) In what parishes priests have been shot? 

(2) What troops put them to death and on what date? 

(3) Is the bishop of the diocese ready to declare posi- 
tively that his priests were innocent? 

The names of the parishes have already been printed 
in my Christmas pastoral, 19 14, on page 6$. 

The German headquarters staff is better informed than 
any one else as to what troops were occupying a parish on 
any particular day. While the population easily recognize 
the German uniform, they are for the most part unable to 
distinguish the regiments of which the army is composed. 

I have good reasons for my personal conviction that the 
priests whose names I have cited were innocent; but in jus- 
tice it is not for us to prove their innocence: it is for the 
military authorities who have proceeded against them to 
establish their guilt. 

Witnesses called to give evidence before a biased com- 
mission will in general be afraid to tell the truth. This can 
only be obtained fully and be universally accepted as such 
on condition that a mixed commission be formed to investi- 
gate it and to guarantee an impartial and exact inquiry. 

And, therefore, I cannot but renew for the third time 
my proposal to confide to a mixed commission made up 
partly of German magistrates and partly of Belgian magis- 
trates the task of throwing full light on facts about which 
the Governor General has had the happy idea to institute an 
inquiry. In order that the results of the inquiry may have 
all desirable weight, it were well that the tribunal should be 
presided over by some delegate from a neutral state. 

Malines, February 10th, 19 15. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

(Signed) Von Fleming, 

Major and Adjutant of the Kreischef of Malines. 

The proposals of the Cardinal achieved no result what- 
ever. 



CHAPTER VII 

RELEASE OF THE BELGIAN DOCTORS AND CHEMISTS CON- 
FINED AT HEIDELBERG 

Reference has already been made in a preceding letter 
to a group of Belgian army doctors and pharmaceutical 
chemists confined at Heidelberg and threatened by the camp 
commandant with reprisals, to be undertaken as a sort of 
protest against the supposed bad treatment to which it was 
falsely alleged the German officer prisoners in France and 
Belgium had been subjected. The Cardinal, who had in- 
terceded with Von Bissing on his compatriots' behalf, re- 
ceived the following reply: 

Governor General, Brussels, 

January 30th, 191 5. 
To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of Malines. 

The letter which your Eminence wrote me on December 
17th, 1 9 14,* led me to obtain precise particulars about the 
twenty-three doctors and twelve pharmaceutical chemists 
who have been deported to Heidelberg. 

The result of the inquiries I have made is that the com- 
petent authorities had at first the intention of attaching 
them to the Belgian Medical Service quartered in Germany, 
but that this plan was never put into execution, in the same 
way as it was not found possible at the beginning to send 
them into Switzerland. 

Under these circumstances, it was found necessary to 
intern them provisionally in the officers' camp at Heidelberg. 

Already on January 3rd orders were sent to conduct 
them to Switzerland: they will have by now reached the 
place which they themselves chose for their residence. 

* A copy of this letter has never been found. 

71 



72 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

I present to your Eminence the expression of my sincere 
esteem. 

(Signed) Baron von Bissing, 

Governor General. 

The Cardinal thanked Von Bissing for his intervention : 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 

February 6th, 19 15. 
To His Excellency Baron von Bissing, Governor General, 
Brussels. 
Sir — In reply to the letter I had the honor of addressing 
you on December 17th last, your Excellency has been so 
kind as to inform me that twenty-three doctors and twelve 
dispensers, prisoners at Heidelberg, have been released. 

I rejoice at the result of the steps taken by your Excel- 
lency and think it my duty to express my gratitude. 

Please accept, dear Governor General, the assurance of 
my sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

Among the many libels on Belgium spread broadcast 
by the Germans in the course of their world-wide propa- 
ganda during the War, the Kaiser's telegram to President 
Wilson in September, 19 14, and the book bearing the title 
of "The German War and Catholicism. A German Reply 
to French Attacks, Edited by German Catholics," were un- 
surpassed for cynical mendacity in the one case and in utter 
unscrupulousness in the other. 

Given to the public in 19 15, the aim of this book was to 
remove the slur which had been cast on the German troops 
by their conduct in Belgium and in the North of France, 
where countless massacres, atrocities and wanton destruc- 
tion of every kind marked their trail. 

The main purport of the book was to show that the 
German Army was forced to the prosecution of this cam- 
paign of ruthlessness by the hostile and treacherous atti- 
tude taken up by the Belgian people — a proposition which 



RELEASE OF BELGIAN DOCTORS 73 

inevitably involved the fabrication of charges of unheard- 
of cruelty against the Belgians. 

To effect this purpose a very simple procedure was 
adopted. The German Staff simply accused the Belgians of 
the very crimes which their own soldiers had committed, 
and this they did without bringing forward the slightest 
evidence or proof to substantiate their appalling accusa- 
tions. A more cold-blooded, deliberate, collective, national 
lie has probably never been heard of before and what makes 
it the more outrageous is that the Kaiser himself and the 
leaders of public opinion in Germany who merely echoed 
his words, endorsed and disseminated these charges without 
making the least attempt to enquire into their truth or 
falsity. 

Twice did Cardinal Mercier, shocked and righteously 
indignant at this monstrous injustice, appeal to the Occupy- 
ing Power to hold an impartial inquiry, but no answer was 
vouchsafed. Then as a last resort he called upon the Epis- 
copates of Germany and Austria-Hungary to at least afford 
Belgium an opportunity to vindicate her honor. 

The following letter, drafted by Cardinal Mercier, was 
signed by all the Belgian Bishops with whom he could com- 
municate at the time: 

November 24th, 1915. 
To their Eminences the Cardinals and their Lordships, the 
Bishops of Germany, Bavaria and Austria-Hungary. 

Venerable Brethren — For over a year now, we Catholic 
Bishops, you of Germany and we of Belgium, have appeared 
to the world in a very uncertain light. 

The German Armies had hardly set foot on our soil 
when a rumor was circulated in all your country that our 
civilians were taking an active part in military operations, 
that women had actually gouged out the eyes of your sol- 
diers at Vise and Liege and that the property of Germans 
expelled from Antwerp had been looted by the populace.* 

♦ Note — An important section of German Catholics with the ostensible 
view of replying to a French work entitled "The German War and Cathol- 
icism" heaped calumnies on the heads of the Belgian people and a Pader- 
born schoolmaster named Rosenberg, assuming the character of mouth- 
piece for his compatriots, grossly insulted Belgian honor in his "The Ger- 



74 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

In the early days of August, Dom Ildephonsus Her- 
wegen, Abbot of Maria-Laach, telegraphed Cardinal Mer- 
rier imploring him for the love of God to protect German 
soldiers against the serious ill-treatment they were alleged 
to be subjected to by our compatriots. Now it was well 
known that our Government had left no stone unturned to 
instruct our people in the laws of warfare. In every town, 
village or hamlet the inhabitants were ordered to surrender 
whatever firearms they had in their possession to the local 
authorities, and, in addition, bills were posted up informing 
them that those citizens alone who were properly enlisted 
were authorized to bear arms, and the clergy, in their eager- 
ness to back up the State, gave publicity to the Government 
decrees, both by word of mouth and by issuing them in 
their parish magazines and affixing them to their church 
doors. 

We, who have been accustomed to a peaceful rule dur- 
ing the last hundred years, were unable to realize that any- 
one in good faith could credit us with instincts of aggression 
and knowing that right was on our side and that our pacific 
intentions were genuine, we merely answered the calum- 
nious accusation of gouging out eyes and waging a guerilla 
warfare against the Germans with a shrug of the shoulders, 
being convinced that sooner or later — probably sooner — 
the truth would itself, and of itself, eventually come to 
light. 

The Belgian Episcopate and clergy used to enter into 
personal relations with numerous German and Austrian 
Bishops, Religious and priests, the Eucharistic Congresses 
held at Cologne in 1909 and Vienna in 191 2 giving them 
abundant opportunity of getting to know each other more 
intimately, in this way fostering mutual esteem. Again, we 
were confident that we should not be judged rashly by Cath- 

man War and Catholicism. A German Reply to French Attacks, Edited by 
German Catholics" — a book which is all the more insidious because its 
tone is apparently restrained. 

The Cardinal and the Bishops of Namur, Liege and Tournai replied 
to this book, French and Flemish translations of which were distributed 
broadcast in Belgium, in a letter to their German and Austrian colleagues 
on the Episcopal Bench proposing an open enquiry into Rosenberg's allega- 
tions. 



RELEASE OF BELGIAN DOCTORS 75 

olics belonging to countries at war with us, so that without 
allowing the contents of Dom Ildephonsus' telegram to un- 
duly perturb him, the Cardinal was satisfied with inviting 
him to unite with the Belgians in preaching the Gospel of 
meekness, for, added he, we hear that German soldiers are 
shooting down innocent Belgian priests. 

Dating from the very beginning of August, outrages 
were perpetrated at Battice, Vise, Berneau, Herve and else- 
where, and we earnestly hoped that they would prove to be 
isolated instances and, with the knowledge we had that Dom 
Ildephonsus was an influential man, we gave credence to the 
following declaration he kindly made to us on August nth: 

"I have first-hand information to the effect that the mili- 
tary authorities issued formal orders to the German troops 
to spare the innocent. As to the deplorable fact that cer- 
tain priests have laid down their lives may I point out to 
your Eminence that the ecclesiastical soutane and monastic 
habit have become objects of suspicion and scandal owing 
to French spies having recently disguised themselves as 
priests and monks, the better to hide their nefarious pur- 
pose." 

Notwithstanding this, outrages against innocent people 
continued apace. 

On August 1 8th, 1914, the Bishop of Liege wrote to 
Commandant Bayer, who was acting as Governor of Liege : 
"Many of our villages have been razed to the ground one 
after the other, and influential men, among them certain 
Rectors of parishes, shot down, others again have been 
placed under arrest, all, however, loudly protesting their 
innocence. 

"I know my diocesan clergy too well to believe any one 
of them guilty of hostile acts against the Germans. In the 
course of my visits to different hospitals, I have found Ger- 
man wounded receiving the same careful treatment as the 
Belgians — a fact even your own soldiers admit." * 

* Note — This protest was renewed on August 22nd, when General 
Kolewe became Military Governor of Liege, and again on August 29th, 
when it was forwarded to Baron von der Goltz, Governor General of the 
Occupied Provinces of Belgium, whose Headquarters were at that time in 
Bishop's House, Liege. 



76 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

N*o reply was returned to this letter. 

In the beginning of September the Kaiser cast the man- 
tle of his authority over the calumnies uttered against our 
innocent people, when he dispatched his telegram to Presi- 
dent Wilson, the contents of which have not been with- 
drawn, to the best of our knowledge, even to this day: 

"The Belgian Government has publicly encouraged ci- 
vilians to take part in a War, for which they have made 
long and careful preparations. In the course of this guerilla 
warfare, such cruel outrages have been committed on doc- 
tors and nurses by women and even priests that my Gen- 
erals have at last been compelled to take the most stringent 
measures to punish the guilty and put a stop to these odious 
and abominable crimes committed by bloodthirsty civilians. 
We have been obliged to destroy several villages as also the 
town of Louvain, its fine Town Hall excepted, and my heart 
bleeds when I see that this destruction was inevitable for 
defensive reasons and in order to protect our armies, and 
again when I think of the innumerable innocent people who 
have lost their homes and goods and chattels as the result 
of the criminal acts in question." 

This telegram of the Kaiser's was posted up in Belgium 
by order of the Governor General on September nth, and 
on the following day the Bishop of Namur demanded audi- 
ence of the Military Governor of that Province to protest 
against the stigma the Kaiser attempted to cast on the 
Belgian clergy. He maintained that every priest shot down 
or subjected to ill-treatment was innocent of the charge pre- 
ferred against him and expressed himself as ready to de- 
nounce publicly of his own accord any crimes that could suc- 
cessfully be laid at the door of the clergy. 

The Bishop of Namur's offer was not accepted nor did 
his protest have any tangible result. Thus a free rein was 
given to the libel, the German Press exerting itself to the 
utmost to spread it rather than stay its course. 

The Catholic Centre Party paper, the "Cologne Peo- 
ple's Gazette," in particular, rivaled the Lutheran Press 
in its exaggerated and unreasoning patriotism, and when 



RELEASE OF BELGIAN DOCTORS 77 

thousands of our fellow citizens, ecclesiastical as well as 
laymen, as guiltless of war-like acts or cruelties as you 
yourselves or we are, were led into captivity from Vise, 
Aerschot, Wesemael, Berent, Louvain and twenty other 
places, and passed through Aix-la-Chapelle and Cologne 
stations, where for several hours, which must have seemed 
to them an eternity, they were handed over to the inhabi- 
tants of the capital of Rhineland as objects of a morbid 
curiosity, our poor people were sorrow-stricken at finding 
their fellow Catholics as insulting and abusive as any Lu- 
theran sectarian at Celle, Soltau or Magdeburg. Not a 
voice was uplifted in Germany in defence of these poor 
victims. 

In this way, the fairy-tale, whereby innocent men were 
transformed into guilty ones — this flagrant violation of jus- 
tice received its sanction, and on May 10th, 19 15, it was 
cynically reiterated in the German "White Book," the offi- 
cial organ of the Empire, and the following offensive, cow- 
ardly, lying statement went the round of neutral countries : 

"It cannot be doubted but that German wounded have 
been robbed and then killed in cold blood or shockingly mu- 
tilated by the Belgian people, even women and children co- 
operating in these outrages. German wounded have had 
their eyes gouged out, their eyes, noses, fingers and genital 
organs lopped off or have been disemboweled. Again Ger- 
man soldiers have been poisoned, hung from branches of 
trees, and have had boiling liquids poured over them and 
sometimes even been burnt alive, succumbing eventually 
under excruciating sufferings. This inhuman conduct of the 
Belgians not only violates the explicit provisions of the 
Geneva Convention as to the consideration to be shown and 
treatment to be meted out to enemy wounded, but also con- 
travenes the fundamental principles and laws of Hu- 
manity." * 

Venerable Brethren in the Faith and priesthood, put 
yourselves for a moment in our place. 

We know that these accusations of the Imperial Gov- 

*Note — Die Volkerrechtswidrige Fiihrung des Belgischen Volkskriegs. 
Denkschrift, S. 4. 



78 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

ernment are false from beginning to end, yea, not only do 
we know it, we even swear they are. 

Now, your Government, in order to justify itself, calls 
on witnesses who have never been subjected to the test of 
cross-examination before any inquiry. Is it not your duty, 
not merely in charity but in strict justice, to seek enlighten- 
ment and bring the truth home to your flocks? — to give us 
an opportunity to prove our innocence by legal methods? 

In the name of Christian charity, whereby national con- 
flicts are ruled, you should make this act of reparation, and 
you owe it to us today in strict justice, because a Commit- 
tee, composed of Germans of eminence in Science, Politics 
or Religion enjoying at least your tacit approval, took these 
official libels under its wing and entrusted a Catholic priest 
and Professor of Paderborn, Herr A. T. Rosenberg, with 
the task of tabulating them in his book, "The False Accu- 
sations of French Catholics against Germany," thereby 
making Catholic Germany responsible for actively and pub- 
licly spreading these calumnies broadcast to the detriment 
of the fair name of Belgium. 

When the French book, against which the German 
Catholics brought out their own, made its first appearance, 
their Eminences Cardinal von Hartmann, Archbishop of 
Cologne, and Cardinal von Bettinger, Archbishop of Mu- 
nich, felt themselves called upon to send the Kaiser a tele- 
gram couched in these terms : 

"Disgusted with the falsehoods uttered against the 
Fatherland and its glorious Army in the 'German War and 
Catholicism,' we feel we must, in the name of the German 
Episcopate, express to your Majesty our sorrowful indigna- 
tion. We shall not fail to lay our complaint at the feet of 
the Sovereign Pontiff." 

We, too, Venerable Brethren of the German Episco- 
pate, are disgusted in our turn with the falsehoods uttered 
against our beloved country and its glorious Army in the 
German "White Book" and reiterated by the German Cath- 
olics in their reply to this French Catholic work, and in or- 
der that our protest may not prove ineffective in the face of 



RELEASE OF BELGIAN DOCTORS 79 

yours, we request you to lend us your aid in setting up a 
commission of inquiry where these charges can be sifted 
and disproved. You may, in virtue of your official position, 
nominate as many members as you please, and we will ap- 
point an equal number ourselves, for example, three on each 
side. Then together we will approach the Bishops of some 
neutral country, either Holland, Spain, Switzerland or the 
United States, and ask them to appoint one of their number 
to act as referee and preside over the business of the In- 
quiry. 

You have laid your complaints before the supreme head 
of the Church : it would be unjust if he were to hear no other 
voice but yours. Both Episcopates have an identical duty, 
which is to lay before his Holiness duly authenticated docu- 
ments to enable him to form and give a considered judg- 
ment. You can hardly be unaware of our repeated attempts 
to induce the Occupying Power in Belgium to set up this 
Commission of Inquiry. Cardinal Mercier applied in writ- 
ing on two different occasions, the one on January 24th, 
19 1 5, the other on February 10th of the same year, and 
the Bishop of Namur in his letter to the Military Governor 
of that Province under date of April 12th, 191 5, called for 
the formation of a tribunal consisting of Belgian and Ger- 
man members in equal numbers under the presidency of a 
delegate from a neutral country, but these pressing appeals 
met with nothing but an obstinate refusal. All the same 
the German authorities were very anxious to set up some 
kind of tribunal, but they insisted on its being one-sided and 
consequently of no value from a judicial point of view. 

After refusing Cardinal Merrier' s request, they paid 
a visit to the different localities where priests had been shot 
down and peaceable citizens massacred or imprisoned and 
there on the testimony of certain witnesses whom they called 
before them haphazard or chose with careful discrimination, 
in some cases in the presence of a representative of the local 
authorities who had no knowledge of German, and conse- 
quently had no alternative but to accept and append his sig- 
nature to a document, the contents of which he could only 



80 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

take on trust, they considered themselves able to base conclu- 
sions to be afterwards given to the world as the findings of 
an impartial Commission. 

This was the method adopted at the German inquiry 
at Louvain in 19 14, which was in consequence devoid of all 
authority, and so we naturally turn to you. You will be 
good enough to grant us the tribunal refused to us by the 
Occupying Power and we trust you will obtain for us from 
your Government a public declaration enabling your wit« 
nesses and ours to appear and give full and complete evi- 
dence without any fear of reprisals. They will have a 
greater sense of security in your presence and will receive 
every encouragement to testify to what they have seen and 
heard. The world, too, will have every confidence in the 
united Episcopate of the two countries. Our joint exami- 
nation of whatever evidence may be laid before us will give 
it the stamp of authority and effectively guarantee the trust- 
worthiness of the official reports of the tribunal. An in- 
quiry conducted on these lines will enable us to establish the 
real truth, and we ask for it, Venerable Brethren, in order 
to vindicate the honor of the Belgian people and remove 
the slur certain sections of your countrymen, including 
the more important among your leading men, have cast 
upon the fair name of Belgium. And you are as well ac- 
quainted as ourselves with an axiom of Moral, Human, 
Christian and Catholic Theology: "No pardon without 
restitution." Non remittitur peccatum, nisi restituatur abla- 
tum. Your people, speaking through the mouthpiece of 
their highest political and moral authorities, have accused 
our citizens of perpetrating atrocities and horrors on Ger- 
man wounded, as set forth in detail in the above quotation 
from the "White Book" and the German Catholics' mani- 
festo. These charges we formally deny and all we ask for 
is to be allowed to furnish proof positive that our disavowal 
of them is well founded. 

On the other hand, to justify the atrocities committed 
by German troops in Belgium, your Government, as shown 
by the very title of the "White Book" : Die Volkerrechtswi- 
drige Fuhrung des Beigischen Volkskriegs (The violation 



RELEASE OF BELGIAN DOCTORS 81 

of International Law in the Belgian method of warfare), 
and the hundred Catholic signatories to "The German War 
and Catholicism. A German Reply to French Attacks," 
both maintain that the German Army in Belgium is acting 
on the defensive against a treacherous organization of 
francs-tireurs. We on the contrary affirm that no such or- 
ganization has ever existed anywhere in Belgium and in the 
name of our national honor defamed by these libels, we 
claim the right to prove absolute truth of this assertion. 

You may summon whom you like before this commission 
of inquiry, indeed we invite you to order the appearance of 
the Rector of any Parish where civilians, priests, religious 
or laymen have been massacred or threatened with death to 
the cry of, "man hat geschossen" (somebody has fired). 
We will, if you wish, give all these, the priests, the option of 
signing their statements on oath, and at the price of hold- 
ing up the whole Belgian clergy to obloquy as perjurous, 
you will have to accept the findings of this solemn and de- 
cisive inquiry in common with the rest of the civilized world. 
We would add, Veneral Brethren, that the setting up of this 
Court of Honor is as vital to your interests as it is to ours, 
for we know by personal experience and affirm that in a 
hundred different places in Belgium the German Army has 
given itself up to pillage, arson, massacres, imprisonings and 
sacrileges in direct violation of all the laws of justice and 
humanity, notably in those communes mentioned by name in 
our Pastor Letters and in two notes sent by the Bishops of 
Liege and Namur on October 31st and November 1st, 
1 91 5, respectively, to his Holiness, Pope Benedict XV, the 
Papal Nuncio at Brussels and the Ambassadors and repre- 
sentatives of neutral countries accredited to the Court of 
Brussels and resident in that city. 

Fifty priests and thousands of the Faithful, all of them 
absolutely innocent of the crimes for which they paid the 
extreme penalty, were executed, whilst hundreds of others 
who owed their lives to a chain of circumstances beyond 
the control of their persecutors were in imminent peril. 
Some thousands of guiltless citizens were arrested and sent 
to prison without previous trial or conviction, and on their 



82 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

release it was found that the most minute cross-examination 
had failed to elicit any evidence against them. 

These outrages cry to Heaven for vengeance. 

If, in laying this information against the German 
Army, we have been guilty of calumny, or in case the mili- 
tary authorities had good and just reasons for ordering 
or permitting what we cannot but style criminal conduct, 
the Germans will, if they retain any sense of national honor, 
or have the true interest of their country at heart, refute 
us. But so long as German justice shirks the ordeal, we 
shall hold fast to our rights and fulfill our duty of denounc- 
ing what we conscientiously consider to be a grave perver- 
sion of justice and a slur on our national honor. 

During the session of the Reichstag on August 4th the 
Chancellor of the German Empire declared that the inva- 
sion of Luxemburg and Belgium was ''contrary to the pro- 
visions of International Law." He admitted that "in cross- 
ing the frontiers in spite of the justifiable protests of the 
Luxemburg and Belgian Governments, he had committed 
an injustice for which he promised reparation," and the 
Sovereign Pontiff, too, not only purposely alluded to Bel- 
gium in a letter he deigned to write to a member of the 
Government, M. Van den Heuvel, through his Secretary of 
State, Cardinal Gasparri, but also delivered this unalterable 
judgment in his consistorial address: "The duty of pro- 
claiming above everything else that no one may, for any rea- 
son whatsoever, commit a breach of justice devolves on the 
Roman Pontiff, who has been constituted by Almighty God 
the supreme interpreter and upholder of the Eternal Law." 

Nevertheless, from that time onwards politicians and 
casuists have attempted to evade or water down these de- 
cisive words of the Holy Father, and the German Catholics, 
who in their reply to the French "German War and Cathol- 
icism" have recourse to the same empty quibbles, would, if 
they could, bolster them up with an alleged fact. 

They have at their disposal two affidavits. One of these 
is anonymous and its author alleges that he saw French 
officers in conversation with Belgian officers on the Boule- 
vard Anspach at Brussels on July 26th, whilst in the sec- 



RELEASE OF BELGIAN DOCTORS 83 

ond, made by a certain Gustave Lochard of Rimogne, it is 
alleged that two regiments of French Dragoons, the 28th 
and 30th, and a battery of French Artillery crossed the Bel- 
gian frontier in the evening of July 31st, 19 14, and were 
quartered exclusively on Belgian territory during the whole 
of the following week. 

Now the Belgian Government declares that "no body of 
French troops, however small, penetrated into Belgium be- 
fore the declaration of war," and adds: "No reliable wit- 
ness can be found to refute this solemn assertion." There- 
fore it casts back in their teeth as false the allegation made 
by the German Catholics and from this arises a primary 
question, at once political and moral, about which we must 
enlighten the public mind. In case, however, you decline 
to undertake the investigation of this question we would ask 
you to be good enough to sift all the evidence the German 
Catholics have relied on, even if it only serves to settle the 
case against us. Gustave Lochard's evidence can easily be 
verified. Besides, the German Catholics will be anxious to 
rid themselves of the stigma of untruthfulness and will make 
it their bounden duty to retract in case they have allowed 
themselves to be misled to our detriment. 

We are well aware that you decline to believe that regi- 
ments whose discipline, honesty and deep religious faith you 
profess to know so well could possibly give themselves over 
to such atrocities as we allege against them. Do you wish 
to deceive yourselves into believing that they did not do so 
because they are incapable of it? And we, on our side, are 
compelled to retort that the evidence in our possession 
proves to demonstration that they are capable for the simple 
reason that they have committed them. No presumption 
can hold its own against a fact, and there remains but one 
issue before us both, viz., the verifying of this fact by a 
commission whose impartiality is so obvious as to be recog- 
nized by everybody as unquestionable. 

We have no difficulty in understanding your frame of 
mind. We, too, have a great regard, if you will be good 
enough to believe it, for the spirit of discipline, industry and 
religious faith by which your compatriots are animated. We 



84 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

have often seen this with our own eyes, and have reliable 
information to the same effect, but, alas, there are many Bel- 
gians today who, in the light of the terrible experiences 
through which they passed during the months of August and 
September, own that they have been bitterly deceived. Truth 
has conquered their strongest preconceived notions of the 
Germans. The fact is now beyond the shadow of doubt. 
Belgium has suffered martyrdom. 

When foreigners from neutral countries, Americans, 
Dutch, Swiss, and Spaniards, ask us how Germany carried 
on this war, and we picture to them certain scenes, the hor- 
ror of which were so realistically brought home to us in 
spite of ourselves, we have had to weaken the impression 
our recital would of itself tend to create, so imbued are we 
with the idea that the truth, shorn of all adornment, exceeds 
the bounds of all probability. Yet when once you have been 
face to face with realities in their entirety and have been 
able to analyze both the proximate and remote causes 'of 
what one of your generals, reviewing the ruins of the little 
village of Schaffen-lez-Diest and the martyrdom of its Par- 
ish Priest, styled "a tragic blunder," when you have realized 
the various influences under which your soldiers labored at 
the moment of their entry into Belgium and the elation they 
experienced as the result of their early victories, the unlikeli- 
hood of the truth will appear to you, as it did to us, less 
disconcerting. 

But above all, Venerable Brethren, do not let yourselves 
be held back on the empty plea that an immediate inquiry 
would be premature. Strictly speaking, we alone might be 
justified in urging this excuse, since if the inquiry were 
opened now, the conditions surrounding it would not be at 
all in our favor. Our people have indeed been terrorized 
to such an extent and the prospect of reprisals is still so 
appalling that the witnesses we should have to summon be- 
fore a tribunal composed partly of Germans would hardly 
have enough courage to tell the whole truth. Even so, we 
have cogent reasons for not brooking any delay. The first 
which will go the straightest to your heart is that we are 
weak whilst you are strong. You would not care to take 



RELEASE OF BELGIAN DOCTORS 85 

an unfair advantage of us by abusing your power. Public 
opinion generally favors him who is first in the field with 
his story. Now, whilst you are free to flood neutral coun- 
tries with your propaganda literature, we, on the contrary, 
are hedged in on all sides and reduced to silence. We are 
scarcely allowed to make our voices heard even inside our 
own churches. Sermons are practically censored, that is to 
say, they are distorted by spies in your pay, and any pro- 
test we may make in conscience is termed an act of sedition 
against public authority. Again our writings are stopped 
at the frontier and treated as so much contraband. You 
alone enjoy full liberty of speech and pen, and if in the 
spirit of charity and fair play you obtain a small portion of 
this for accused Belgians, thereby enabling them to defend 
their cause, it will then be your duty to become their imme- 
diate protectors. 

The old legal axiom, Audtatur et altera pars, is, they 
say, inscribed over the portals of many German Courts of 
Justice. In any case, in all proceedings in the Ecclesiastical 
Courts, both here and in Germany, judgment is always 
founded on this primary adage. Then again you doubtless 
have in common with us a popular proverb, metaphorically 
expressed thus: "He who hears only one bell hears but 
one sound." 

You will perhaps say that all this is ancient history. Let 
the dead bury its dead. Instead of fanning the smoldering 
embers into a blaze, rather be forgiving and make common 
cause with the occupying power in their efforts to heal the 
wounds the unfortunate Belgian people have received. Ven- 
erable Brethren, do not add irony to injustice. Have we 
not suffered enough? Have we not been on the rack long 
enough yet? Must we still be subjected to cruel tortures? 
All that is now over, we hear you saying. Accept it with 
resignation and forget. Past! Why, our wounds are still 
bleeding! There is no man with any sense of honor who 
does not swell with indignation. When we hear our Gov- 
ernment declaim in the teeth of the whole world: "He is 
doubly guilty who, having infringed the rights of another, 
attempts with cold cynicism to justify himself by imputing 



86 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

to his victim crimes he has never committed," violence alone 
silences the curses that rise to the lips of our people. Only 
yesterday one of the inhabitants of a Mechlin suburb learned 
that his son had fallen on the field of battle and the brave 
father answered the priest who conveyed the sad news to 
him and offered words of consolation and comfort, "Oh, 
that one. I gave him freely to his Fatherland, but my eldest 

son, those cruelly murdered him and flung his body 

into a ditch." 

Tell us, how could we possibly elicit a sincere expres- 
sion of forgiveness and resignation from an unhappy people 
who have experienced such anguish so long as those who 
have brought this suffering into their lives refuse to utter 
one word in acknowledgment of their wrongdoing, one 
word of repentance or one word promising reparation? 

Germany cannot give us back the blood she has shed or 
the innocent lives her Army has destroyed, but it is in her 
power to restore the good name of Belgium on which she 
has herself cast a slur or allowed others to do so, and in your 
capacity of foremost representatives of Christian morality 
in the German Church we demand this restitution of you. 

There is indeed something much more deplorable than 
mere political divisions or material calamities, viz., the spirit 
of hatred, fostered by real or presumed injustice, seething 
and growing in intensity the while in hearts made rather for 
love. Is it not our duty as Pastors of our people to make it 
easier for them to unburden their souls of these evil emo- 
tions, and strengthen the now shaken foundations of true 
justice and union in charity which should reign uppermost 
in the hearts of all children of the great Catholic family? 

The Occupying Power has, both verbally and in writing, 
expressed its intention to heal our wounds. But in foro 
externo, intention is judged by action. Now the only thing 
we poor Belgians, temporarily under the heel of the German 
Empire, know is that a power which gave its word of honor 
to govern us according to International Law as laid down 
in the Hague Convention, has repudiated its solemn engage- 
ment. What we have in mind now is not so much isolated 
abuses of power from which certain individuals or districts 



RELEASE OF BELGIAN DOCTORS 87 

have suffered. These can only be proved by a thorough in- 
vestigation to be made when War is over, but rather those 
specific acts of the Government which were drawn up in the 
form of proclamations and notices and posted up by its or- 
der on walls and hoardings in our towns. Their authenticity 
and consequently your Government's direct responsibility 
for them cannot therefore be called into question. 

Now the breaches of the Hague Convention committed 
by the Germans from the first days of the occupation until 
the present time are many and flagrant. We merely give 
you here certain headings as it were and would refer you to 
an appendix for proofs of our allegations.* 

The principal infringements are as follows : — 

Collective punishments inflicted on account of the mis- 
demeanors of individuals contrary to Art. 52. 

Forced labor contrary to Art. 52. 

New taxation contrary to Arts. 48, 49, and 52. 

Abuse of requisitions in kind contrary to Art. 52. 

Systematic ignoring of the laws in force in the country 
contrary to Art. 43. 

These violations of International Law which serve only 
to aggravate our unhappy lot and swell the leaven of hatred 
and revolt in hearts normally peaceable and charitable, 
would never be persisted in if those who commit them did 
not feel they were upheld, if not by the positive approval 
of the leaders of public opinion in their own country, at all 
events by their tacit consent. Therefore with every confi- 
dence that it will reach your charitable hearts, we again 
make our appeal. We are, as we said once before, the 
weak, while you are the strong. Come and see for your- 
selves if it is still right for you to withhold your assistance. 

Besides the particular reasons why this commission of 
enquiry, composed of Catholic Bishops, should be set up, 
there are others of a more general nature, passing reference 
to which we have already made. Amongst these is the 
danger of scandal for those people who own that they are 
not edified at seeing us divided among ourselves. We must 
then be on our guard against provoking them to blasphemy 

* Note — See p. 90 of the text. 



88 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

in thought. Our own people fail to understand how you 
can possibly be blind to the flagrant dual injustice inflicted on 
Belgium — the violation of our neutrality and the inhuman 
conduct of your troops, and, moreover, why in the light of 
this knowledge you do not make your voices heard on all 
sides in condemnation of these wrongs, and repudiate your 
connection with them. 

On the other hand, your own countrymen, Catholics and 
Protestants alike, cannot but be scandalized at the character 
your press attributes to both clergy and people belonging to 
a country the Government of which has been Catholic for 
thirty years. On September 21st, 19 14, the Bishop of Hil- 
desheim, addressing his clergy, said: "Take care that the 
airing of these grievances against priests, religious, monks 
of Catholic nations in the columns of the press does not 
drive a wedge between German Catholics and Protestants 
and imperil the future of Religion in the Empire." 

But the campaign of falsehood and calumny directed 
against our clergy and people shows no sign of abating. On 
the contrary, Herr Erzberger, a member of the Centre, ap- 
pears to have taken it upon himself to add fuel to the flame, 
while even in Belgium itself one of your priests, Heinrich 
Mohr by name, preaching to the German troops in Antwerp 
Cathedral on the 16th Sunday after Pentecost, actually 
dared to say from the pulpit: "Official documents tell us 
how the Belgians have hanged German soldiers from trees, 
poured boiling liquids over them and burnt them alive." * 

There is only one way of putting an end to these scan- 
dals and that is for the religious authorities to bring the 
whole truth to light and publicly and officially denounce the 
guilty parties. 

Another cause of scandal for any straightforward man, 
whether he be a believer or not, lies in this mania for bring- 
ing to the fore and weighing in the balance the advantages 

* Note — Man hat in den Amtlichten Berichten entsetzliche Dinge gelesen. 
Wie die Belgier deutsche Soldaten an die Baumen aufhangten, mit heizem- 
Teer verbrunten und lebendig anzundeten. Feldpredigt auf den 16 sontag 
nach Pfingstern, von Heinrich Mohr. The sermon was published in Die 
Stimmen der Heimat No. 34, a periodical issued by Herder in 191 5 from 
Freiburg in Br. 



RELEASE OF BELGIAN DOCTORS 89 

or disadvantages that would accrue to the Catholic religion 
according as the Triple Alliance or the Quadruple Entente 
were victorious. 

Professor Schrors of Bonn University * was the first, so 
far as we are aware, to devote his leisure hours to this vex- 
atious species of Mathematics. 

The result the War will have on Religion is God's own 
secret and not one of us is in his confidence. 

But there is a question of moral right and honor far 
more important than that one : "Seek ye first the Kingdom 
of God and his justice," said our Saviour, "and all the rest 
will be added unto you." Do your duty, come what may. 
We Bishops also have a moral and, consequently, a religious 
duty to perform at the present time — one that claims prece- 
dence over all the rest, viz., to seek out and proclaim the 
truth. Did not Jesus Christ, who has conferred on us the 
signal favor of being at once his disciples and ministers, say 
that H is mission to society was to witness to the truth? "For 
this I came into the world that I should give testimony to 
the truth" (John 18, v. 37.) 

On the solemn occasion of our episcopal consecration, we 
all vowed to Almighty God and the Catholic Church never 
to desert the Truth, never to allow ourselves to be led away 
by ambition or fear whenever we should be called upon to 
supply some proof of our love for the truth, "Veritatem 
diligat, neque earn unquam deserat, aut laudibus aut timore 
superMus" 

We have, therefore, by virtue of our very vocation, a 
common role and ground on which to base an understand- 
ing. Confusion reigns in every mind; light for some is 
darkness for others and so it is with good and evil. We 
cherish the hope that the commission of Inquiry to be formed 
with a view to setting aside these charges, to which we have 
the honor to convene your delegates, will contribute towards 
removing more than one misconception, "Non ponat lucem 

♦ Note Der Krieg und der Katholizimus, von Dr. Heinrich Schrors, 

Prof. d. Teologie an der Universitat in Bonn. 



90 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

tenebras, nee tenebras lucem, non dicat malum bonum, nee 
bonum malum." * 

Our Holy Father the Pope ardently expressed his desire 
for peace and appealed for its conclusion in a letter he 
deigned to send you during your last meeting at Fulda. He 
urged you, as he does us all, to unite with him in this desire, 
but he would have peace based on respect for the rights and 
dignity of nations. "Dum votis omnibus pacem expetimus, 
atque earn quidem pacem qua et justitia sit opus et popu- 
lorum congruat dignitati." t 

Our most fitting answer, therefore, to the Holy Father's 
wish is to collaborate with you in making the Truth shine 
forth in all its splendor and triumph over error, since upon 
it rest justice, honor and lastly, peace. 

Receive, Venerable Brethren, the expression of our sin- 
cere esteem and fraternal devotion. 

APPENDIX 

BREACHES OF THE HAGUE CONVENTION 

Germany was one of the signatories to the Hague Con- 
vention. 

As early as November 12th, 19 14, the Governor Gen- 
eral, Baron von der Goltz, referred to the Hague Conven- 
tion in a notice issued by him. 

His successor, Baron von Bissing, issued a proclama- 
tion on July 1 8th, 1915, affirming that his intention was "to 
govern Belgium in accordance with the provisions of the 
Hague Convention as to the laws and customs of land war- 
fare," and added: 

"His Majesty the Emperor of Germany, after the Occu- 
pation of the Kingdom of Belgium by our victorious troops, 
entrusted me with the administration of this country and 
commissioned me to carry out the obligations arising out of 
the Hague Convention." 

So much for the law. Now for the facts. 

•Note — Pontificate Romanum. de consecratione electi in episcoputn. 
tNoTE — Acta Apostolicae Sedis. Vol. 7, die 6 Octobris, 1915. 



RELEASE OF BELGIAN DOCTORS 91 



I. Collective Penalties 

Art. 40 of the Convention provides that "No pecuniary 
or other collective penalty may be inflicted on the popula- 
tions on account of the actions of individuals, for which the 
community could not be held to be collectively responsible." 

Now the history of the occupation is divided into three 
periods: the invasion itself, the period of Baron von der 
Goltz's administration and that of Baron von Bissing's. 

During the first of these three collective penalties of 
every kind were systematically inflicted and there are abun- 
dant proofs for this assertion. The following alone is suf- 
ficient : — 

In proportion as the invading army made headway, the 
Commander-in-Chief had a proclamation posted up printed 
in three languages on red paper, wherein it was laid down 
that: 

"Any village in which hostile acts are committed against 
our troops by the inhabitants will be burned down. 

"In cases where roads, railways or bridges are de- 
stroyed, the villages nearest to the points where destruction 
has taken place will be held responsible. 

"The above-mentioned penalties will be carried out with 
severity and no favor will be shown. The whole body will 
be held responsible. Heavy war levies will be inflicted, and 
hostages seized in large numbers." 

During the Governorship of Marshal von der Goltz a 
proclamation affecting the whole of the occupied territory 
was issued over his signature on September 2d, 19 14. It 
expressly lays down that, "One of the inevitable hardships 
of war is that the innocent as well as the guilty have to suffer 
punishment for hostile acts." 

Consequently collective punishment was unsparingly re- 
sorted to. 

Thus to take a typical example: The city of Brussels 
was mulcted in a fine of 5,000,000 marks because a police- 
man, without the knowledge of the local authorities, treated 
an official of the German administration disrespectfully. 



92 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

A notice signed "Baron von der Goltz," posted up on 
October 7th, 19 14, applied collective penalties to the whole 
family. It ran: — 

"The Belgian Government has issued calling-up notices 
to several military groups. All those receiving such notices 
are strictly forbidden to obey them. In cases of infringe- 
ment, the soldier's family will be held equally responsible" 

With Baron von Bissing as Governor General, that is to 
say, beginning with October 3rd, 19 14, collective punish- 
ment was constantly inflicted contrary to Art. 50. 

The following are a few typical instances : — 

On December 23rd, 19 14, it was stated in a notice pla- 
carded all over Brussels that in the event of soldiers' graves 
being tampered with or desecrated, not only the perpetra- 
tors of such desecration will be punished, but responsibility 
will also fall on the whole commune. 

A decree of the Governor General under date January 
26th makes an entire family responsible for the fact that a 
Belgian of military age, that is, between 16 and 40, crossed 
over into Holland. In fact, the communes are mulcted in 
huge fines on the flimsiest pretexts. Thus Puers must pay 
3,000 mks. because a telegraph wire was broken, although 
it was proved in the course of a subsequent enquiry that it 
was simply worn out. 

Mechlin, a working-class town without funds, was fined 
20,000 mks. because the mayor did not advise the military 
authorities of a journey the Cardinal was obliged to make 
on foot, owing to his having been deprived of the use of his 
Motor-car. 

II. Forced Labor for the Enemy 

According to the terms of Art. 52 of the Hague Conven- 
tion, ''Requisitions in kind and personal service can only 
be exacted from communes or the inhabitants thereof on 
three conditions: — 

"1. Provided that they do not involve any obligation on 
the part of the population to participate in warlike opera- 
tions against their country. 



RELEASE OF BELGIAN DOCTORS 93 

"2. Provided that they be in proportion to the resources 
of the country or people on whom they are imposed. 

"3. Provided that they be limited to the needs of the 
Army of Occupation." 

It is interesting to notice that Art. 23 contains a con- 
cluding paragraph proposed by the German delegates to the 
2nd Hague Conference held in 1907 as follows: 

"No belligerent is allowed to compel enemy nationals to 
take part in military operations against their country." 

1. From the moment of the invasion Belgian civilian 
citizens were forced to take part in warlike operations and 
this in twenty different places. 

At Lebbeke, Termonde, Dinant and in many other 
towns, peaceable citizens, women and children were com- 
pelled to march at the head of German regiments or to 
form a screen around them. 

At Liege and Namur civilians were forced to dig 
trenches and were also employed in the work of repairing 
fortifications. 

The frenzied seizure of hostages proceeded with vigor. 

The proclamation of August 4th, already referred to, 
declared without a quibble "Hostages will be seized in large 
numbers." 

An official proclamation placarded all over Liege in the 
early days of August read as follows : — 

"Acts of aggression committed on German troops by 
others than soldiers in uniform not only expose the guilty 
parties to summary execution but will entail the severest re- 
prisals on all the inhabitants, especially on the citizens of 
Liege seized as hostages and lodged in the citadel by order 
of the Commander of the German Army." 

These hostages were Mgr. Rutten, Bishop of Liege, M. 
Kleyer the Mayor, and the senators and representatives, the 
permanent deputy and the Sheriff of Liege. 

2. Under the Government of Marshal von der Goltz, 
every kind of requisition of services exacted during the 
month of August continued to be enforced. Trenches were 
dug, men were engaged on fortifications, roads, railways and 
in transport work. 



94 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

The Governor General promulgated the following de- 
cree on November 19th: 

"Whosoever by constraint, threats, persuasion or other 
means shall attempt to hinder the execution of work for the 
German authorities by persons capable of performing the 
task required of them or contractors entrusted with such 
work by the Germans will render themselves liable to im- 
prisonment." 

The decree does not specify for what term — a case of 
unrestrained despotism. The system of taking hostages was 
continued in all its rigor. 

A monstrous specimen of high-handedness and cruelty 
is the proclamation issued on September 8th, 19 14, by Ma- 
jor Commandant Dieckman in the communes of Baine-Heu- 
say, Grivignee and Bois-de-Breux of which the following is 
an extract: 

"From September 7th onwards I am willing to allow the 
inhabitants of the above mentioned communes to return to 
their homes. To obviate any abuse of this permission, the 
mayors of Baine-Heusay and Grivignee must immediately 
draw up a list of those who will be kept back and held as 
hostages in Fort Fleron. 

"The lives of these hostages depend on the inhabitants 
of the said communes keeping the peace in all circumstances. 

"I shall specify the individuals who are to be held as hos- 
tages from noon on one day until noon on the next. If a 
hostage detained in the fort is not changed at the proper 
time, he shall remain there for a further space of 24 hours. 
When this new period of 24 hours has expired, the hostage 
will incur the penalty of death if no change has been made. 

"Priests, mayors and other municipal officials are to head 
the lists of hostages." 

3. Under the Government of Baron von Bissing, there 
were some flagrant violations of Art. 52 and revolting inci- 
dents occurred at the Mechlin Railway Works, at Luttre 
and also in several communes in West Flanders. We leave 
you to judge for yourselves. 

The German authorities issued an order on March 23rd 
for the resumption of work at Luttre and on April 21st they 



RELEASE OF BELGIAN DOCTORS 95 

called for 200 workmen. On April 27th they made domi- 
ciliary visits with a view to pressing the workmen into serv- 
ice and conducted those they found at home to the works. 
Each time a man was discovered to be absent, they arrested 
a member of his family. 

However, the men remained firm in their refusal to 
work "because they were unwilling to cooperate in acts of 
war against their country." 

On April 30th the workmen thus pressed into service 
were not released any more, but were shut up in railway 
carriages. 

On May 24th 24 workmen detained in prison at Ni- 
velles were tried before a Council of War at Mons "on a 
charge of being members of a secret society, the end of 
which was to frustrate the execution of German military 
measures." They were sent to prison. 

On May 14th 45 workmen were deported into Ger- 
many. 

On May 18th a new proclamation announced that the 
prisoners' diet would consist of dry bread and water, with 
only one hot meal every four days. 

On May 22nd 3 trucks containing 104. workmen were 
dispatched to Charleroy. 

In spite of all this, the national spirit of the workmen 
rose in proportion as pressure was brought to bear upon 
them. 

The same state of affairs prevailed in Mechlin where 
by resorting to different methods of intimidation the Ger- 
man authorities tried to force men to work on railway ma- 
terial as though it were not perfectly clear that sooner or 
later it would become war material. 

On May 30th, 19 15, the Governor General announced 
that he would have no alternative but to punish the town 
of Mechlin and suburbs by bringing all commercial traffic 
to a standstill unless 500 artisans signed on for work at 
the Arsenal by 10 a. m. on Wednesday, June 2nd. Not a 
single workman put in an appearance, with the result that 
vehicular traffic within a radius of several miles of the town 
was completely stopped. It was at this period that Cardinal 



96 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

Mercier went on foot from Mechlin to Eppeghem- — a walk 
which brought in its wake a fine of 20,000 mks. for the 
town. 

Several workmen were forcibly seized and detained in 
the shops for two or three days. 

Traffic was suspended for ten days. In June the 
commune of Sweveghem in West Flanders was punished 
because 350 workmen engaged in a private factory belong- 
ing to a certain M. Bekaert refused to make barbed wire for 
the German Army. 

The following order was posted up in Menin in July and 
August, 1 9 1 5 : — 

"From to-day onwards no more relief of any kind what- 
ever can be afforded by the town even to families, women 
and children, except to those men who do regular military 
work and perform other tasks imposed upon them. All 
other workmen and their families will henceforth be unable 
to receive any kind of relief." 

Is this not disgraceful enough? 

Similar treatment was meted out to Harlebeke-lez-Cour- 
trai, Bissighem, Lokeren and Mons. At Harlebeke 29 
inhabitants were deported to Germany, while at Mons man- 
agers, foremen and 81 hands employed in M. Lenoir's fac- 
tory were sent to prison for refusing to work for the Ger- 
man Army. M. Lenoir himself was sentenced to five years, 
5 managers to one year, 6 foremen to 6 months, and 81 
hands to eight weeks' imprisonment. 

The Governor General also availed himself of a round- 
about means of constraint. He laid hands on the Belgian 
Red Cross Society, confiscated its supplies and arbitrarily di- 
verted it from its original purpose. He tried to assume the 
mastery over the Bienfaisance publique and exercise control 
over the National Committee for Relief and Food Supply. 

If we were to give in full the Governor General's de- 
cree dated August 15th, 19 15, "as to the measures to be 
adopted to guarantee the execution of work in the public 
interest," as well as that of August 15th, "as to unemployed, 
who, out of laziness, keep away from work," anyone would 
at once perceive the indirect methods the occupying power 



RELEASE OF BELGIAN DOCTORS 97 

used to get both masters and men under their thumb simul- 
taneously. 

But it was in the War Areas (Etapes) that this contempt 
for the Hague Convention reached its zenith. 

On October 12th, 19 15, an order was published in the 
"Official Gazette" of Decrees applicable to War Areas, 
the most illuminating passages of which are these : — 

Art. 1. Whosoever when ordered to do so by the mili- 
tary commanders refuses without good reason to undertake 
or continue work adapted to his calling and in the execution 
of which the military authorities are interested will be liable 
to correctional imprisonment for one year or more. He is 
also liable to be deported into Germany. 

In no case may an appeal to contrary Belgian laws or 
even International Conventions be made in justification of a 
refusal to work. 

The right of deciding as to the lawfulness of work be- 
longs exclusively to the military commander. 

Art. 2. Whosoever, by coercion, threats, persuasion or 
other means, induces anyone to refuse work as provided for 
in Art. 1 renders himself liable to imprisonment for a term 
of five years or more. 

Art. 3. Whosoever knowingly encourages this punish- 
able refusal to work by granting relief or by any other 
means is liable to a fine which may amount to 10,000 marks. 
He may likewise be condemned to one year's imprisonment. 

In cases where communes or societies are found guilty 
of such crimes, the penalty will be inflicted on the heads 
thereof. 

Art. 4. Apart from the penalties laid down in Arts. 1 
and 3 the German authorities may, where needful, exact a 
contribution or adopt other coercive police measures in 
Communes where the carrying out of work has been re- 
fused without adequate reasons. 

This present decree will come into force at once. 

(Signed) von Huger, 

Lieutenant General. 
Inspector of Military Areas. 

Ghent, October 12th, 1915. 



98 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

The injustice and highhandedness of this decree are be- 
yond imagination. Forced labor, collective punishment, in- 
definite penalties — everything is there. It is slavery, neither 
more nor less. 

III. New Taxes 

We will limit ourselves to detailing in a few words two 
instances of taxation contrary to Arts. 48, 49, 51, and 52 
of the Hague Convention. 

The first was ordered by Baron von Bissing in a decree 
dated January 16th, 19 15, and consisted in penalizing Bel- 
gians who had taken refuge in foreign countries, by impos- 
ing a huge additional tax at the rate of ten times the amount 
of their personal contribution. This tax does not find a 
place in any existing category, and affected solely a class of 
citizens who made lawful use of their right to quit the coun- 
try before it was occupied. It is therefore contrary to Arts. 
48 and 51 of the Convention. 

The second infringement of the Convention is the well- 
known contribution of 480,000,000 marks levied on the nine 
Provinces on December 1 8th, 19 14. 

An essential condition for the lawfulness of this kind of 
contribution, according to the Hague Convention, is that it 
be apportioned according to the resources of the country 
(Art. 52). But Belgium was devastated in 1914 — contri- 
butions for war purposes were levied on towns, innumer- 
able requisitions in kind drained the resources of the coun- 
try, workshops and factories were for the most part closed 
down, whilst in the case of the few where work still con- 
tinued, the Germans did not fail to commandeer raw ma- 
terials contrary to all law. And on this poverty-stricken 
Belgium, dependent as it was on outside charity, they levied 
a contribution of nearly 500,000,000 marks. 

A decree of December 10th, 19 14, reads: — 

"A monthly war contribution of 40,000,000 francs pay- 
able during the space of one year is hereby levied on the 
Belgian people." 

We have at length reached the end of that year and 



RELEASE OF BELGIAN DOCTORS 99 

now, at the time of writing, the occupying power intends to 
replace "the space of one year" by "for the duration of the 
War." 

Poor little Belgium! What has she done to rich and 
powerful Germany, her neighbor, to be thus trodden under 
foot, calumniated and oppressed? 

If we had to compile a complete list of decrees and acts, 
in which the occupying power has to our knowledge placed 
itself in open contradiction with the Hague Convention, we 
should have to add "the abuse of requisitions in kind" 
against Art. 52, the seizure of funds belonging to private so- 
cieties, the commandeering of some hundreds of miles of 
steel rails and of weapons stored in communal houses by 
order of the Belgian Government contrary to Art. 53, the 
disregard for the laws of the country, especially of the penal 
code, contrary to Art. 43. But we cannot say everything 
here nor bring everything forward. Should, however, those 
to whom our correspondence is directed wish for proofs of 
the allegations we have merely indicated in this final para- 
graph, we shall be only too glad to supply them. Neither in 
our letter nor in these four appendices have we made one 
charge which we cannot substantiate from documents in our 
possession. 



CHAPTER VIII 

THE CARDINAL'S PROTEST AGAINST THE BEHAVIOR OF A 
GERMAN MILITARY CHAPLAIN 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 

February gth, 1915. 
To His Excellency Baron von Bissing, Governor General, 
Brussels. 

Dear Governor General — An incident has taken place 
at Forrieres, in the province of Luxemburg, to which I 
would call your kind attention. In conjunction with my 
venerable colleague, Mgr. Heylen, Bishop of Namur, I 
should like, in addressing your Excellency, to forestall any 
painful controversy. 

At Forrieres on Thursday, January 7th, the Cure Tag- 
non had a conversation in the sacristy with the chaplain of 
Arlon which can be more or less summed up in these 
terms : 

"Many innocent priests in the diocese of Namur have 
been shot." 

"Pardon me," answered the chaplain, "our staff head- 
quarters is in possession of proofs that many civilians were 
francs-tireurs and that the clergy incited them to fire on 
the German troops." 

"You must not believe all these tales; if one were to pin 
one's faith to all one hears, I should also believe that the 
Germans have attempted to violate our nuns." 

That very same day the chaplain, in company with a 
German doctor, paid a visit to the presbytery in order to 
induce the cure to repeat the statement he had made that 
morning in the sacristy. 

The cure acknowledged that, materially, he had made 
the statement, but in a vague manner: "people say," "there 



PROTEST AGAINST CHAPLAIN 101 

is a rumor that" and conditionally, "Germans may have 
violated our nuns." 

Nevertheless, the chaplain made a categorical and de- 
tailed accusation against the cure, the net result of which 
was the imprisonment of the cure and his condemnation to 
either a hundred days in gaol or a thousand francs fine. 

M. Misson, a public notary, accused of having in the 
course of familiar conversation with his friend, M. Tagnon, 
made the same statement, was condemned to undergo the 
same penalty. 

I am convinced, dear Governor General, that the Cure 
Tagnon has not made the damning accusation against the 
German army which the chaplain has put into his mouth. 
But it is not my intention to lay stress on the accusation 
itself. 

It is the behavior of the chaplain that I find odious. 
A conversation held in the afternoon by two brother priests 
cannot be the subject for a summons to court. The afore- 
thought behavior of the accuser who tries to impose on the 
good faith of his brother priest, airily accepts a cigar which 
he smokes in his company, enjoys the hospitality of his table, 
in order to extort from him a confidence with which to trump 
up a case against him — this premeditation aggravates the 
guilt of the accuser and the odious character of his accusa- 
tion. 

The military tribunal of Arlon must have been badly 
informed of the case to have accepted such an accusation 
and not to have proceeded against the accuser, rather than 
the acused. 

We, Mgr. the Bishop of Namur and myself, deem that 
our respect for the dignity of the priesthood and our solici- 
tude for the maintenance of good fellowship, which ought 
to reign among priests to whatsoever nationality they be- 
long, will not allow us to let pass without censure the un- 
gentlemanly behavior of the Rector of the Dominican Pri- 
ory at Dusseldorf. We are minded therefore to refer the 
case to the Reverend Father General of the Dominican Or- 
der and to the Holy See at Rome. 

Nevertheless, if the chaplain will consent to withdraw 



102 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

his accusation and if your Excellency will condescend to re- 
mit the penalty inflicted on the Cure Tagnon and on his 
parishioner, M. Misson, we shall be pleased to consider the 
incident as closed. 

Kindly receive, Governor General, the assurance of my 
sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

I join with His Eminence in begging the Governor to 
take in hand the cause of my diocesans. 

(Signed) Th. Louis Heylen, 

Bishop of Namur. 

Following this intervention, the punishment inflicted on 
the cure Tagnon and on M. Misson was reduced by one- 
half. 



CHAPTER IX 

THE CARDINAL INTERCEDES ON BEHALF OF F. VAN BAM- 
BEKE, S. J., AND OF THE ABBE CUYLITS. VON 
BISSING COMPLAINS OF THE PATRIOTIC ATTI- 
TUDE TAKEN UP BY THE CLERGY 

F. Van Bambeke, S. J., and the Abbe Cuylits had been 
condemned by the German military tribunals for having 
helped Belgian youths to cross the frontier. As a result of 
the Cardinal's intervention, the Governor General con- 
sented to set the Abbe Cuylits at liberty and gave permis- 
sion to F. Van Bambeke to undergo his punishment in a Bel- 
gian prison. 

In communicating to the Cardinal this act of clemency, 
Von Bissing complains for the first time of the patriotic 
attitude assumed by the clergy. This theme of discussion, 
which is here only hinted at, will later on form the object 
of extensive correspondence between his Eminence and the 
German authorities. 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 

March 27th, 19 15. 
To His Excellency, Baron von Bissing, Governor General, 
Brussels. 
Sir — The Reverend Father Van Bambeke, S. J., pre- 
fect of the Central Art and Mechanical School, rue d'Alle- 
magne, Brussels, has been condemned to two years and a 
half penal servitude for having provided facilities to two or 
three young men to pass the frontier, and the Abbe Cuylits, 
cure of N. D., at Cureghem, has to undergo one year of 
the same penalty for a similar offense. 

The two ecclesiastics are in poor health, which would 

be shattered for good and all by residence in a foreign land. 

For this reason I appeal with confidence to your Excel- 

103 



104 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

lency's humane sentiments and ask you to arrange that both 
the religious and the secular priest may undergo their pun- 
ishment in our own country. 

I would be extremely obliged to you were you to comply 
with my request, and I beg you to accept, sir, the expression 
of my sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines, 

Governor General's Office, Brussels, 
III b. T. L. No. 1422. April 4th, 19 15. 

DECREE 
Grant of Pardon to the Abbe Cuylits and F. Bambeke, S. /. 
To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Malines. 

To my deep regret I have often been forced latterly 
to take a decision about appeals for reprieve in the case 
of ecclesiastics who have been punished for having behaved 
toward the German authorities in a manner unworthy of 
their state. 

If I again adopt great clemency in the case of the Cure 
Cuylits, of Cureghem, and of F. Van Bambeke, S. J., it can 
only be an exception; I have only decided to do so in con- 
sideration of the pressing recommendations I have received 
on behalf of the Cure Cuylits, who is indispensable to his 
parish, and in view of F. Van Bambeke's poor state of 
health. 

I would observe that in future, if priests are again found 
guilty of offenses against the German authorities, I shall not 
avail myself of my prerogative. 

The Governor General, 

(Signed) Baron von Bissing, 

Lieut. General. 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 

April 1 6th, 19 15. 
To His Excellency Baron von Bissing, Governor General, 
Brussels. 
Sir — I have had to be away from Malines these last 
few days and have been unable to reply as soon as I should 



PATRIOTIC ATTITUDE OF CLERGY 105 

have liked to letter No. 1422, which your Excellency did 
me the honor of addressing to me. 

In allowing F. Van Bambeke to undergo his penalty in 
a Belgian prison your Excellency has done a very kind act 
for which the prisoner's friends will be grateful ; and in au- 
thorizing the Cure Cuylits to re-enter his parish at Cureg- 
hem, you have done a good service to the religious and 
moral interests of our diocese. We thank you in all sin- 
cerity and beg you to consider this letter as an expression 
of our gratitude. 

Your Excellency is afraid that you will not in future be 
able to see your way to show leniency to the clergy, and you 
warn me of the necessity in which you might find yourself 
to meet me with a refusal if I should again have recourse 
to your right to grant a reprieve. I hope there will no 
longer be any occasion for it. 

Your Excellency can hardly forbid me from thinking 
that, should recourse to your prerogative be eventually jus- 
tified, you should again see your way to taking such steps 
as equity demands. 

Accept, sir, the expression of my feelings of gratitude 
and sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 



CHAPTER X 

SCHEME FOR AN INQUIRY ON THE SUBJECT OF ASSAULTS 
COMMITTED BY GERMAN SOLDIERS UPON NUNS 

We have seen how the Kreischef of Malines had com- 
municated to the Cardinal a scheme for an inquiry about 
priests put to death by German troops during the first weeks 
of invasion. The Cardinal, having in his letter of January 
24th replied that he would lend his aid only to an interna- 
tional committee of inquiry, which alone could offer guaran- 
tees of impartiality, remained unanswered. The scheme 
for an inquiry was shelved. 

Von Bissing raised the point once again. Only, without 
trying to throw light on all the horrors which had marked 
the entry of the Germans into Belgium, he would have liked 
to limit his inquiry to a single point, viz., the outrages com- 
mitted against nuns by German soldiers. The Cardinal, 
while he hinted that accusations of this character were not 
so void of foundation as the Governor General seemed to 
imagine, declared that he could take no part in an inquiry 
about facts of so delicate a nature. Von Bissing made a 
pretext of this refusal to declare that his Eminence thus 
recognized the falsity of the accusations brought against the 
German troops; once again he distorted his correspondent's 
views : 

Governor General of Belgium, Brussels, 
I. No. 1243. March 30th, 191 5. 

To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of Malines. 
The foreign press, in addition to a whole series of crim- 
inal charges which, for the most part, have been recognized 
as false, has put forward lately at various times the follow- 
ing grave accusation. German soldiers passing through 
Belgium have gone so far as to outrage Belgian nuns. 

106 



ASSAULTS BY GERMAN SOLDIERS 107 

It is enough to remark that such crimes, if they can be 
proved, would certainly incur my severe condemnation, as 
well as that of the German Government; but, on the other 
hand, justice requires that every care should be taken to set 
aside accusations recognized as false. 

I venture to think that the sentiments of justice and the 
interests of the Church will derive equal advantage from 
a full establishment of the truth. For this reason, I believe 
I can rely on your Eminence's willing support to second my 
efforts in thoroughly sifting the facts. 

If your Eminence would be so kind as to forward me 
the documents which you may possibly have dealing with 
the cases of violation of nuns in your diocese, I shall then 
be in a position to take whatever further steps the situation 
may demand. 

I present to your Eminence the expression of my sincere 
esteem and remain your devoted servant. 

(Signed) Baron von Bissing, 

Governor General. 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 

April 16th, 19 15. 
To His Excellency, Baron von Bissing, Governor General, 
Brussels. 

Sir — I have duly received the letter No. 1243 with 
which your Excellency has honored me and I am sorry I 
was prevented from answering it earlier. 

Rumors are indeed being bruited by certain newspapers, 
and denied by others, about outrages alleged to have been 
committed by German soldiers upon Belgian nuns, and in 
agreement with your Excellency I protest against those who 
thus in a light-hearted way and without proof spread 
broadcast among the people or entertain such odious accu- 
sations. 

But when your Excellency asks me to help you in throw- 
ing light on the grounds, whether true or false, of these 
imputations, I find it necessary to ask you a preliminary 
question : 



108 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

Has civil authority the right to institute an inquiry about 
so delicate a matter? 

Whom would one question? 

The confessor? The doctor? They are bound by pro- 
fessional secrecy. 

Should it be the superiors? Do they always know the 
whole truth? And if they do know it, through having 
learned it under the seal of secrecy, have they the right to 
speak about it? 

Would any one venture to interrogate the offended par- 
ties? Would not this be cruel? Would any one attempt 
to induce the witnesses to speak at the risk of making known 
the hapless victims of a violence which would, in the opinion 
of the public, bring upon them the stain of dishonor? 

So far as I am concerned, I would not dare to submit 
anybody to an interrogatory on so delicate a subject, and 
any confidences which have already been extended to me 
spontaneously, or in the future will be made to me on this 
subject, my conscience forbids me to reveal to others. 

Our duty, your Excellency, is to prevent by every means 
in our power the public from indulging in such wanton and 
immoral allegations ; and I shall approve with all my heart 
any effort at repression which justice chooses to adopt with 
those who either of set purpose or through an unpardon- 
able levity invent these tales or spread them broadcast. But 
I think we cannot proceed any further without encroaching 
upon the rights of conscience and without also exposing 
them to violation. 

Accept, dear Governor General, a renewed assurance of 
my deep esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

Governor General of Belgium, Brussels, 
P. A. J. No. 1877. April 20th, 19 1 5. 

To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of Malines. 

I have the honor of expressing to your Eminence my 
hearty thanks for your letter of the 16th instant. 

I perfectly understand the feelings which hindered your 



ASSAULTS BY GERMAN SOLDIERS 109 

Eminence from undertaking any painful inquiry in order 
to answer the questions which I had addressed to you. I 
had indeed no intention of exacting such an inquiry. I had 
reason rather to believe that if, after all, these reports had 
any solid foundation, the ecclesiastical authorities would, 
in one way or another, have had cognizance of them. It is 
enough now to state that neither your Eminence nor the 
other bishops can furnish any proof based on facts of these 
reports, and I feel bound again to declare indignantly that 
they are purposely propagated and with malicious intent. 

I willingly agree that an inquiry, having for its object, 
the refutation of these lying accusations, would be of a na- 
ture to wound the modesty of nuns. Nevertheless, I can- 
not refrain from pointing out to your Eminence that in 
presence of such allegations I myself and all who have at 
heart the honor and good name of the German soldiers 
experience like sentiments. It is in the name of these same 
feelings which your Eminence finds justifiable, while inter- 
vening on behalf of the nuns confined to your care, that I 
claim the right to check with every means at my command 
the slanders that are leveled at our troops. 

It is with all the more gratitude, then, that I acknowl- 
edge that your Eminence, in the most peremptory way, dis- 
approves of the propagation of such lies in the press, and 
that I venture to count on your benevolent co-operation in 
defeating these malicious machinations. 

Allow me to offer to your Eminence the expression of 
my sincere esteem, and I have the honor to be your devoted 
servant, 

(Signed) Baron von Bissing, 

Major General. 



CHAPTER XI 

THE MUSTER-ROLL OF YOUNG MEN CLASHING WITH RE- 
LIGIOUS SERVICES ON SUNDAYS 

In certain communes the muster-roll of young men of 
military age took place at the same time as divine service 
on Sundays. The Cardinal had complained of this to the 
German authorities. Von Bissing informed him that he 
had just published an order commanding his subordinates 
to take care that the young men liable to roll-call should 
be able to fulfill their religious obligations. The Cardinal 
thanked him for this measure. 

Governor General's Office, Brussels, 

April ist, 19 1 5. 
To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, M alines. 

I have the honor of informing your Eminence that in 
consequence of the complaints which have been brought to 
my notice regarding the clashing of the young men's muster- 
roll with the church services, I have published an order 
of which I inclose a copy. 

The Governor General. 
(Signed) Baron von Bissing, 

Major General. 

Governor General's Office, Brussels, 
Sect. Ic. No. 2564. April ist, 19 15. 

Whenever the day appointed for the muster-roll falls 
on a Sunday or feast day the authorities of the several dis- 
tricts are requested to take care that those who have to 
present themselves shall be able to fulfill their religious 
duties. To effect this, it will be sufficient in most cases to 
advance or delay the opening of the muster parade by one 
or two hours. 

The Governor General. 
(Signed) Baron von Bissing, 

Major General. 
no 



RELIGIOUS SERVICES in 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 

April 6th, 19 15. 
To His Excellency Baron von Bissing, Governor General, 
Brussels. 
Sir — Your Excellency has been so kind as to let me know 
that, in deference to an expressed wish of mine, you have 
been willing to fix the rollcall of young men of military age 
at hours which do not coincide with those for religious wor- 
ship. 

I deem it my duty to express to you my thankfulness for 
this benevolent action and would ask you to accept the assur- 
ance of my sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 



CHAPTER XII 

von bissing complains of a discourse of mgr. de 

wachter's 

Governor General's Office, Brussels, 

April 14th, 191 5. 
To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of Malines. 

According to the newspaper "The Courier," of Dundee, 
of February 15th, Mgr. de Wachter, of Malines, delivered 
a discourse on February 14th at Willesden, in which he is 
stated to have said that four ecclesiastics who had the pre- 
ceding week returned from Germany, declared that they 
had there been compelled to perform the vilest tasks and 
had suffered every kind of outrage. One day they had been 
placed against the wall at the same time as the English 
and French prisoners and informed that they were about 
to be shot and rifles had then been levelled at them. After 
the lapse of an hour they were told that their execution had 
been deferred. These scenes had been repeated for several 
days in succession. Among those who had been subjected 
to these frightful torments, many had completely lost their 
reason. 

I ask your Eminence to inform me where Mgr. De 
Wachter now resides in order that he may be heard in re- 
gard to these monstrous accusations. 

The Governor General. 

(Signed) Baron von Bissing, 

Major General. 
112 



DISCOURSE OF MGR. WACHTER 113 

Archbishop's House, M alines, 

April iSth, 19 1 5. 
To His Excellency Baron von Bissing, Governor General, 
Brussels. 
Sir — I hasten to give your Excellency the address of 
Mgr. De Wachter, auxiliary bishop of the diocese of Ma- 
lines. For over six months he has been residing in London 
with Mgr. Amigo, Bishop of Southwark. His address is: 
Bishop's House, St. George's Road, Southwark, S. E. 
London. 

I am ignorant alike of the subject matter of this dis- 
course and its delivery, of which your Excellency speaks on 
the authority of the "Courier," of Dundee. 

Accept, dear Governor General, the assurance of my 
sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 



CHAPTER XIII 

THE CARDINAL'S INTERVIEW WITH MGR. MITTENDORF 

On April 14th, 19 15, Mgr. Mittendorf, Catholic Chap- 
lain-General of the German armies of the West, presented 
himself at the Archiepiscopal Palace. Admitted to the Car- 
dinal's presence, he declared that he was charged with a 
mission from the Governor General; he took a letter from 
his pocket and proceeded to read it. When he had finished, 
the Cardinal, with a natural gesture, put out his hand to 
receive the letter, imagining that it was meant for him. But 
Mgr. Mittendorf was unwilling to give it up. He even 
went so far as to refuse, no one knows for what reason, 
to allow the Cardinal to glance at the document which he 
had just read. 

Here, in substance, is the communication from Von 
Bissing: 

The newspapers have published a letter from your Emi- 
nence to Cardinal Amette. Now there is a regulation which 
forbids any Belgian to correspond with any one whatever 
without first submitting his letter to the German censor- 
ship. Moreover, your Eminence has recognized in your 
Christmas pastoral the necessity of obedience to the authori- 
ties in occupation. 

If any other citizen whatever had committed the breach 
of which your Eminence has rendered yourself guilty, we 
should have to punish him. But out of love of peace and 
through respect for the Holy See and the sacred purple 
which your Eminence wears, we are unwilling to inflict pun- 
ishment on you. We should prefer, should your Eminence 
force us to take such a step, to lay the matter before the 
Holy See. 

114 



INTERVIEW WITH MGR. MITTENDORF 115 

The Cardinal did not hesitate to acknowledge that he 
had written to the Archbishop of Paris. 

"And even," he added, "I received yesterday a French 
newspaper, the 'Matin,' which publishes extracts of my let- 
ter. This publication is preceded by some lines of intro- 
duction in which it is stated that this letter is private, and 
the paper puts some extracts only before its readers." 

"Private or not, it is none the less the revelation of a 
fact, namely, that your Eminence has set at nought the regu- 
lation which obliges every Belgian in the occupied territory 
to submit his correspondence to the German censorship." 

"I am aware of this regulation, and the Governor Gen- 
eral will recollect that it has already been the subject of an 
exchange of views between us. Indeed, in answer to the 
question which he addressed to me in his letter of January 
3rd, regarding the means by which I learned that the King 
of England had ordered a day of intercession, I replied that 
even a lawful government would not consider itself entitled 
to set on foot an inquiry regarding my private intercourse, 
and I could not therefore believe that it could enter into 
the plans of the Governor General to ask me how I had 
been able to correspond either with my own sovereign or 
with the King of England. This regulation does indeed 
exist, but it must be interpreted according to the rules of 
common sense. The Governor General has himself placed 
in my hands a letter which Cardinal von Hartmann had 
written to him in which he asked permission for the Belgian 
bishops to correspond freely with the Holy See. I thought 
I might count on the tacit consent of the German authorities 
for acts rendered necessary by my situation. You are a 
priest, Monsignor; you should inform the Governor Gen- 
eral regarding the working of a diocesan administration." 

"I do not speak as a priest," brusquely interrupted Mgr. 
Mittendorf, "I am here only as the envoy of his Excellency 
Von Bissing." 

"Quite so, I am aware of it ; but I know also that you 
are a Catholic priest, and as such, in a position to enlighten 
your government regarding Catholic life. Now, can any 
one who has the least idea of the needs of Catholic diocesan 



ri6 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

administration imagine that I could remain for whole 
months without intercourse with Rome? I have written, 
and that, too, several times, to the Holy See, to the Roman 
congregations, to my colleagues of the Sacred College in 
Italy, England, the United States and elsewhere: the obli- 
gations of my pastoral charge render it a duty for me to 
declare that I could not refrain in the future also from cor- 
responding with those abroad. It is useless to inquire by 
what means I correspond. Have we not every day friends 
from the United States, from Italy, from Holland, who 
come to see me and offer their services? Do not the United 
States legation, the Spanish legation, the Nunciature cor- 
respond freely with those abroad? I do not, mark well, 
indicate any of these ways to insinuate that I have actually 
availed myself of any of them, but I wish to prove that to 
put myself in communication, when needful, with other 
countries, suitable means are never lacking." 

"What especially annoys the Governor General is the 
fact that your Eminence's letter to Cardinal Amette has 
been made public." 

"Oh, but many of my letters sent abroad have likewise 
become public, among others the letter of thanks addressed 
to the United States, to Canada, to England, to Ireland, 
in return for the generous acts of those nations toward the 
Belgian people, on which occasions no complaint was made 
to me. Be sure of this; no Belgian will take advantage of 
my correspondence with foreign nations to maintain that 
every one has the right to the same freedom as I lay claim 
to. The Belgians are endowed with good sense." 

"Could not your Eminence have submitted your letter 
to Cardinal Amette to censorship?" 

"This letter conveyed my thanks to the French bishops 
for the sympathy which they kindly wished to testify when 
I published my Christmas pastoral. I waited two months 
before showing my gratitude, a proof that I was no agitator. 
I had to answer under penalty of passing for a man without 
manners. Now suppose, Monsignor, that I had submitted 
to the Governor General a letter of thanks to those who 
publicly took my side at the moment of the controversy 



INTERVIEW WITH MGR. MITTENDORF 117 

which had arisen between him and me, what would his Ex- 
cellency have said? What could he have said? That I 
was ridiculing him. Very well, I did not wish to ridicule 
his Excellency. Behold the whole of my wrong-doing, if 
wrong-doing there was. Our interview is coming to an end, 
Monsignor; let me draw from it one conclusion. You Ger- 
mans, after many months of occupation, have not yet got 
to know the Belgians. Among you a general commands and 
automatically every one obeys. Here with us, good sense, 
regard for higher interests, interprets the order and dic- 
tates our conduct. External regulations are meant, no 
doubt, for every one; and it is in this sense that I have ac- 
knowledged them as the Governor General reminds me in 
his letter. But every one applies them with a due regard 
for different contingencies and the obligations which they 
entail." 

At the end of the conversation Mgr. Mittendorf seemed 
to wish the Cardinal to state what his future attitude would 
be. To this request the Cardinal made no reply, and after 
a few minutes' silence bade his visitor a kindly adieu. 



CHAPTER XIV 

THE CARDINAL ASKS VON BISSING TO AUTHORIZE THE SEND- 
ING OF CHAPLAINS TO THE BELGIAN ARMY, AND 
PRESSES FOR RELIGIOUS MINISTRATIONS TO 
POLITICAL PRISONERS TO BE ENTRUSTED 
TO BELGIAN PRIESTS. THE GOVERNOR 
GENERAL REFUSES 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 

April iSth, 19 1 5. 
To His Excellency Baron von Bissing, Governor General, 
Brussels. 

Sir — I take the opportunity which your Excellency offers 
me to explain to you a situation in religious matters which 
gives me great anxiety. 

I know that your Excellency has taken steps with Head- 
quarters in Berlin, unfortunately without success, to obtain 
for Belgian priests, or at least Hollander priests, an au- 
thorization to go and exercise their ministry among our 
countrymen interned in Germany. It only remains for us 
to await patiently the result of this request, which is made 
solely from a sense of religious feeling and which ought, 
one would think, appear to all as quite disinterested. 

What at present worries me is the organization of the 
chaplaincies in the Belgian army. 

Since the beginning of the war several chaplains have 
died or have been brought to the hospitals wounded; others 
have been recalled to Belgium by us because they were 
wanted by their parishes or for teaching. The need of 
their being replaced in the army is urgent. 

Will your Excellency allow me to propose to you the 
names of four priests to whom you might grant a passport? 
I should be pleased to add to them the name of a priest who 
is asked for by the refugee Belgians at Uden in Holland. 

118 



CHAPLAINS REFUSED FOR ARMY 119 

Again, it is exclusively the interests of religion which 
are at stake here ; and I forward my request with all candor 
and confidence to the General Government. 

Accept, sir, the renewed expression of my sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

Governor General of Belgium, Brussels, 

April 2id, 19 1 5. 
To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of Malines. 

On the 1 8th of this month your Eminence asked me to 
grant a passport to five Belgian ecclesiastics in order to 
allow them to go and exercise their priestly ministry in the 
Belgian army and among a number of refugees. 

I regret to be unable to comply with your Eminence's 
request. Among other reasons which dictate my decision 
is the consideration that in the occupied part of Belgium the 
need of priests begins to make itself felt, and I feel I can 
attach all the more weight to this circumstance, inasmuch 
as the Belgian army can have recourse to French priests. 

I offer your Eminence the expression of my sincere 
esteem and I have the honor to be your very devoted 
servant. 

(Signed) Baron von Bissing, 

Major General. 

Archbishop' 's House, Malines, 

April 24-th, 19 15. 
To His Excellency Baron von Bissing, Governor General, 
Brussels. 
Sir — The motives which could even for an instant re- 
strain your Excellency from granting the request I made 
of you with confidence for a passport for priests destined 
to rejoin the Belgian army and our refugees at Uden, will 
quite naturally come to the mind of any one who is not 
acquainted with the special conditions attached to the ad- 
ministration of spiritual help to our countrymen. 

It is quite true, your Excellency, that there is a dearth 
of priests in Belgium also. In all the colleges staffs are 



120 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

reduced to a third; a number of parishes are without one 
or several curates. But it is true, on the other hand, that 
in Belgium the population of the parishes and the pupils 
in schools are reduced in number; it is also true that indus- 
tries, for instance economic and social industries, have 
greatly slackened their activities. 

On the other hand, in the army the presence of a priest 
in each battalion is indispensable and this is an immediate 
and every-day necessity. Moreover, it is out of the question 
to appeal to the co-operation of the French clergy, for the 
regiments of the Belgian army being all bilingual, it is ab- 
solutely needful that the chaplain should know both French 
and Flemish. 

In case there be any suspicion at the back of your Ex- 
cellency's mind to deter you this reminds me of the expres- 
sion "unter anderem" of the dispatch No. 1883 * — I give 
you my word of honor that the priests in whose favor I ask 
for a passport will be chaplains and have no other purpose 
in view than to act as such. 

A distressing situation, your Excellency, to which I 
would respectfully draw your attention, has been brought to 
my notice. When priests happen to be in solitary confine- 
ment in St. Giles they are forbidden to celebrate or even 
to hear mass. On Easter Sunday F. Van Bambeke and the 
Cure Cuylits were deprived of this consolation, of which 
a Catholic and a priest alone can, in my opinion, estimate 
the value. Nevertheless, the service of our prison cells is 
organized in such a manner that it is materially impossible 
for the inmates to communicate with one another in the 
chapel. 

Is it permissible to hope that Catholic prisoners may 
have facilities for attending mass at least on Sundays ; that 
priests may be able to celebrate mass daily, and that all may 
have the consolation of a visit from the prison chaplain? 

I hope that your Excellency will not consider out of 

♦Note — The German text to which reference is made runs as follows: 
"Wenn ich mich zu meinem Bedauern nicht bereit erklaren kann, den 
Wunsch Euerer Eminenz zu erfullen, so leitet mich dabei unter anderem 
der Gesichtspunkt, dass auch hier in Belgien sich schon einiget Mangel an 
Geistlichen fuehlbar gemacht hat." 



CHAPLAINS REFUSED FOR ARMY 121 

place the earnestness with which I plead for the religious 
interests of my fellow countrymen. I do so to quiet my own 
conscience, for in the spiritual realm I am responsible for 
their direction. 

Please accept, sir, the assurance of my sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

The Governor General of Belgium, Brussels, 
S. No. P. A. I. 2130. May 1st, 1915. 

To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of Malines. 

Your Eminence has again asked permission for certain 
priests to cross the frontier in order to go and serve as 
chaplains in the Belgian army. I regret to be unable to rec- 
ommend this request to the competent authorities. The 
state of war in which we find ourselves renders it altogether 
impossible. 

Regarding the second request contained in your Emi- 
nence's letter, I am quite ready to intrust the rector of 
the German mission at Brussels, Father Leyendecker, with 
the spiritual interests of the Belgian ecclesiastics interned 
at St. Giles. Father Leyendecker is known to your Emi- 
nence ; he speaks French and Flemish. I must also say that 
I am of opinion that these priests should have facilities to 
say mass. 

I offer to your Eminence the expression of my sincere 
esteem and I have the honor to be your devoted servant. 

(Signed) Baron von Bissing, 

Major General. 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 

May 14th, 1915. 
To His Excellency Baron von Bissing, Governor General, 
Brussels. 
Sir — The letter dated May 1st (No. 2130) with which 
your Excellency has honored me and which unavoidable cir- 
cumstances have prevented my answering earlier has 
brought about in my mind, I must say, an unpleasant disil- 
lusionment. 



122 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

If I have insisted on obtaining a passport for four chap- 
lains destined to fill the gaps which have taken place in our 
chaplaincies, it is because I could not succeed in fathoming 
the reason for the first refusal I met with. Relying on the 
candor of my two requests, I expected marks of particular 
benevolence. 

All I can do, therefore, is to record a new check to re- 
ligion in Belgium. 

Several representatives of German authority do not, I 
fear, appreciate at its full value the importance attached by 
the Catholic conscience to confession. Otherwise they would 
not obstinately refuse us the sanction solicited by us already 
so often, both by word of mouth and in writing, to send to 
our prisoners detained in Germany a few priests speaking 
their language and to whom they could with full freedom 
open their consciences. 

Will you kindly reflect a moment, sir, that for eight 
months thousands of Belgians, solely because they have 
served their country with honor, are confronted with the 
moral impossibility of setting their consciences at rest? 
Catholic confession reaches the inmost recesses of the soul, 
and the German authorities wish the avowal it exacts, hu<- 
miliating enough as it is, involuntarily or not, to be made 
to a man who reminds his penitent of the power of the op- 
pressor, the responsible author of his captivity. 

Is that humane? Is that Christian? 

What then has poor Belgium done to Germany to be 
tortured on its own soil, to have its property destroyed, 
and the lives of its most inoffensive sons cruelly sacrificed; 
and now finally to be tortured in the consciences of those 
whose patriotism has borne them into exile and imprison- 
ment? 

And yet the general headquarters cannot allege any 
"necessity of war" for refusing our prisoners the free exer- 
cise of their religion. 

If it exacts that the German chaplains should be replaced 
by priests from a neutral country, Holland has promised 
to supply them. 

Even if it exacts that these priests should have no com- 



CHAPLAINS REFUSED FOR ARMY 123 

munication with the outer world, Belgian priests will carry- 
charity to the point of heroism, and declare that they are 
ready to share the internment of their fellow countrymen 
till the day of general liberation comes. 

Can one reasonably ask for more? 

To my last request in favor of those detained in the 
St. Giles prison, your Excellency answers that you agree 
to it, provided the ministry be carried on by Father Leyen- 
decker, of German nationality. 

I am personally acquainted with Father Leyendecker 
and hold him in high esteem. But why inflict on Belgian 
chaplains an unmerited privation? 

The Catholic mass, composed as it is of ceremonies and 
of Latin words, gives no room for any direct communica- 
tion between the priest and the faithful; and hence provides 
the celebrant with no opportunity for taking an unfair ad- 
vantage of his ministry. 

For the practice of sacramental confession, a German 
chaplain, whatever may be his personal merits, incurs the 
objection which I have noted above. I know the priestly 
zeal of Father Leyendecker and his experience of men 
too well to suspect that he cannot understand the disquietude 
of my countrymen's souls and will not help me to plead with 
you for their liberty of conscience. 

Will your Excellency kindly make a new endeavor to 
obtain for prisoners of war in Germany the liberty of prac- 
ticing their religious faith without superhuman efforts? 

Your Excellency has had the kindness to allow the im- 
prisoned priests to celebrate mass; this is a mark of signal 
benevolence on your part for which I am exceedingly grate- 
ful and a thing which all the priests interested will highly 
value. 

Lastly, will your Excellency please consider that the 
Belgians arrested in Belgium by the German authorities are 
not "ordinary criminals," but for the most part citizens be- 
yond reproach — victims of what by the prisoner is called 
"patriotism" and by the detaining power "the inevitable 
laws of war"? Will you spare them, in the name of hu- 
manity, all unnecessary severity, and authorize the accused, 



124 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

after they have been examined, to receive a visit from a 
chaplain who possesses their confidence and, with that, the 
means of consoling them, of upholding their moral strength, 
and every time the prisoners express the wish, of hearing 
their confessions ? 

Accept, sir, the expression of my sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

Governor General of Belgium, Brussels, 

May iqth, 19 15. 
To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of Malines. 

I am in receipt of your Eminence's letter of the 14th 
instant. 

Relative to the decisions which on two different occa- 
sions I have been led to take regarding the desires mani- 
fested by your Eminence concerning the religious interests 
of your diocese, you have risen up in wrath against me, em- 
ploying offensive expressions in my regard and accusations 
which I resent as unjustified. It has thus been impossible 
for me to offer any definite defense. I shall at last find my- 
self compelled to refuse to have for the future written or 
unwritten relations with your Eminence or to take into con- 
sideration requests possibly justifiable unless your Eminence 
employs toward me in the language used the courtesy which 
I have the right to exact. 

Up to the present I have forced myself, in ample meas- 
ure, to make allowance in religious matters, as in others, 
for the situation created by the particular circumstances 
in which we find ourselves. But I must protest against the 
way in which your Eminence finds pretexts to enter into con- 
flict with me in my character of representative of his 
Majesty the Emperor, my supreme chief. 

I offer to your Eminence the assurance of my sincere 
esteem, and I have the honor to be your devoted servant. 

(Signed) Baron von Bissing, 

Major General. 



CHAPLAINS REFUSED FOR ARMY 125 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 

May 29th, 19 1 5. 
To His Excellency Baron von Bissing, Governor General, 
Brussels. 

Sir — The letter No. 2722, dated May 19th, with which 
your Excellency has honored me, has come duly to hand and 
I wish to acknowledge it. 

In order to conform with your Excellency's desire, I 
shall refrain from treating directly with you the question 
of the performance of their religious duties by Belgian 
prisoners in Germany or by those confined in the prison of 
St. Giles. 

But truth compels me to point out that in my preceding 
correspondence I have never been impelled by my solicitude 
for any other feeling than the moral and religious interests 
of my countrymen. For these interests I am responsible. 
I am aware that I have shown a certain amount of vehe- 
mence in supporting the cause I had to defend. I beg your 
Excellency to recognize in my language only the expression 
of deep convictions. In the course of my career, already 
long, I have been engaged in numerous discussions, some- 
times with friends, at other times with adversaries ; I never 
remember having been charged with want of courtesy to- 
ward the people with whom I have been in controversy. 
The fact that my thoughts are centered on truth as it stands 
might sometimes suggest the idea that my judgment of 
facts aims at persons and their intentions ; but may I say that 
that is a result for which in justice I alone cannot be held 
responsible? 

Your Excellency is kind enough to end your letter by 
declaring your good-will to take a generous view of our 
religious welfare. This emboldens me to bring two facts 
to your notice. It is for you to consider them and to judge 
whether they call for your intervention. I think it my duty 
to make them known to you. 

The Baron von Baudenhausen, military commander at 
Antwerp, in a letter addressed to the dean of Antwerp, 
makes certain complaints against the clergy of which one 
is quoted in these terms: "Audi ein Fall der Verweigerung 



i 2 6 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

der Absolution, weil das Beichtkind sich nicht verpflichtete, 
seine deutsche Dienstherrschaft zu verlassen, ist gemel- 
det." * 

What goes on in the secrecy of the confessional box is 
free from all exterior jurisdiction, whether civil, military, or 
even religious. 

On Monday, May 24th, in Whitsun Week — at 10 a. m. 
— in accordance with an old standing tradition, a procession 
took place at Malines. The procession had been authorized 
by the Kreischef of Malines, M. Jochmus. At the moment 
when this procession of devout faithful, which was in every 
sense of a religious nature and was presided over by his 
Lordship Mgr. Legraive, Auxiliary Bishop of the diocese, 
was making its way round the Grand Place, a German mili- 
tary band broke through the procession and created a great 
din as they passed by the side of the bishop who was carry- 
ing the Blessed Sacrament. 

Happily, the clergy and the crowd were able to restrain 
their indignation. Nevertheless, their innermost feelings 
were deeply pained. 

Please accept, sir, the assurance of my sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

* Note — "Another case is reported of a denial of absolution because the 
penitent refused to leave his service in the German army." 



CHAPTER XV 

THE GOVERNOR GENERAL AUTHORIZES THE CORPUS CHRISTI 

PROCESSION 

Governor General of Belgium, Brussels, 
Sekt. lib. No. 5392. May i$th, 19 15. 

To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of Malines. 

I have the honor to inform your Eminence that I have 
given instructions to all the governors, military and civil, 
who are under my orders, to permit this year, on request, 
the customary processions of Corpus Christi. But I trust 
these processions will preserve their strictly religious char- 
acter and that no advantage will be taken of them to make 
them serve political ends. Only religious hymns and ban- 
ners will be permitted; national anthems (the Brabanconne, 
etc.) and national flags are forbidden. If it is usual for 
bands to take part in the procession, they are forbidden to 
play the national anthem and must confine themselves to 
playing an accompaniment to the religious chants. It is 
forbidden to fire off guns or maroons. 

I trust that your Eminence's good sense and influence 
will succeed in hindering any abuse of the liberty which I 
willingly grant in consideration of the interests of religion. 

The Governor General. 

(Signed) Baron von Bissing, 

Major General. 



127 



CHAPTER XVI 

VON BISSING REFUSES TO ALLOW BELGIAN COUNSEL TO DE- 
FEND FATHERS DE BRUYNE AND BOONE, S. J., AR- 
RAIGNED BEFORE THE MILITARY TRIBUNAL 
OF ANTWERP 

Fathers de Bruyne and Boone, S. J., were arrested on 
June 12, 191 5, on the charge of having helped young men 
desirous of joining the Belgian army to cross the frontier. 
After having been kept in the most rigorous solitary con- 
finement for more than five weeks, they were to appear on 
July 27th before a court-martial to be held at Antwerp. 
The barristers, M. Franck and M. Vaes, had offered to 
defend the accused. The military court rejected this prof- 
fered legal assistance and claimed the right to nominate 
its own official counsel. The Cardinal, having learned these 
facts, intervened for the recognition of the rights claimed by 
the defendants. The Governor General agreed to defer the 
matter for further inquiry, but absolutely refused to grant 
the defendants Belgian counsel. The former appeared be- 
fore the tribunal on August 12th, 19 15. Fr. Boone was 
condemned to twelve years' penal servitude; Fr. de Bruyne 
was acquitted. 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 

July 26th, 19 15. 
To His Excellency Baron von Bissing, Governor General, 
Brussels. 
Sir — Fathers de Bruyne and Boone have to appear be- 
fore the Government "Gericht" at Antwerp on Tuesday, 
July 27th. 

If I am not mistaken, the ninth paragraph of the "Kai- 
serliche * Yerordnung ueber das ausserordentliche Kriegs- 

* Note— -Imperial ordinance defining the extraordinary measures to be 
taken in time of war against foreigners. 

128 



NO COUNSEL FOR BELGIAN FATHERS 129 

gerechtliche Verfahren gegen Auslaender" recognizes the 
right of the accused to be defended before courts-martial. 

The court-martial at Antwerp refuses the offer made by 
the two barristers, M. Franck and M. Vaes, to defend the 
prisoners, whom the accused themselves had chosen, and 
claims the exclusive rights of naming an official pleader for 
the defense. 

The barristers likewise claim the right to examine col- 
laterally with the official counsel the charges which have 
been made against the accused and the right of providing 
their clients with the means of defense. This demand has 
just been formally rejected. 

It is clear then, sir, that the rights of defense guaranteed 
by the law of the Empire are not recognized here. 

As the interests of priests belonging to my diocese are 
at stake, I deem it my duty to report this unfortunate inci- 
dent to your Excellency and beg you to give an urgent order 
for the postponement of the suit that it may be possible for 
the defendants to prepare their defense in co-operation with 
counsel of their own choice. 

Please accept, sir, the expression of my sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

The Governor General of Belgium, Brussels, 
Sect. lb. No. 6953. August 3rd, 1915. 

To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of Malines. 

In answer to your Eminence's esteemed letter of July 
26th, I have the honor to inform you that immediately after 
receiving it I gave orders to defer to a later date the depo- 
sitions of the trial set on foot against the priests de Bruyne, 
and Boone. I have submitted the whole of this affair to a 
minute inquiry. 

I regret nevertheless to be unable to give effect to your 
Eminence's request; the necessities of war do not allow 
strangers to become advocates for the defense in a trial for 
treasonable acts. I have the honor to communicate here- 
with to your Eminence the certified copy of the regulation 
which I have sent on this subject to the competent authority. 



130 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

I offer to your Eminence the expression of my sincere 
esteem and I have the honor to be your devoted servant. 
(Signed) Baron von Bissing. 

Governor General's Office, Brussels, 
ii A. T. L. No. 4403. August 2d, 19 15. 

To the Tribunal of the Fortress of Antwerp . 
Regulation 
The refusal to allow the priests de Bruyne and Boone 
Belgian advocates in the trial of the charge of high treason 
brought against them is justified; it is quite lawful to forbid 
all intercourse between the advocates chosen by the accused 
and the official advocate assigned. 

The right of defense, which, according to the ninth para- 
graph of the imperial decree of December 28th, 1899, be- 
longs to foreign enemies, must be limited by the exigencies 
of war; these do not permit strangers to be put in possession 
of the evidence in a charge of high treason, and this could 
not be avoided if they were permitted to act as advocates 
for the defense in trials of this nature. 

In consequence, Cardinal Mercier's objection of July 
28th, 19 1 5, must be considered as unfounded and must be 
rejected. 

The Governor General. 
(Signed) . Baron von Bissing, 

Major General. 



CHAPTER XVII 

INTERVIEW BETWEEN CARDINAL MERCIER AND BARON VON 

DER LANCKEN REGARDING THE PASTORAL LETTER, 

"A CALL TO prayer" 

On Sunday, September 26th, 19 15, the clergy in all the 
churches of the diocese read another pastoral letter of his 
Eminence entitled "A Call to Prayer." Therein the Car- 
dinal lavished on his flock once more words of encourage- 
ment and counsel. "Our trials," he says, "are protracted; 
do not yield, I beg, to weariness; let us not cease to pray 
and do good; the sower must wait for the harvest; in its 
own good time it will come and will not fail us." 

After showing that the conflict between good and evil 
dates from the beginning of the world and that the combat 
of Lucifer and the holy angels is being renewed unceasingly 
during the ages, the Cardinal recommends the people of his 
diocese to take advantage of the Feast of St. Michael, Sep- 
tember 29th, and the first days of the rosary month, to re- 
double the ardor of their prayers for the early deliverance 
of their Belgian fatherland. He asks them to recite for the 
future with attention the prayer which is said after mass: 
"And thou, Prince of the Heavenly Host, we beg thee, cast 
down into hell Satan and the other wicked spirits who wan- 
der through the world for the ruin of souls." The letter 
concluded with an invitation to communicate once at least 
in the interval between September 29th and Friday, October 
1st, or on Sunday, October 3rd, and while they invoked 
the Sacred Heart and our Blessed Lady, to place the com- 
batants under the shield of St. Michael. 

The Germans recognized themselves under the designa- 
tion of "Satan and the other wicked spirits" ; thus the letter 
let loose in the press beyond the Rhine a veritable torrent 

131 



132 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

of invectives and menaces against the Cardinal. Despite 
this outburst, the Governor General did not act with the 
same precipitation in demanding explanations from his Emi- 
nence as he manifested on the occasion of the pastoral let- 
ter, "Patriotism and Endurance." For ten days he gave 
no sign of life. It was only on Tuesday, October 7th, that 
Baron von der Lancken telephoned to Canon Loncin, sec- 
retary of the archdiocese, saying that he desired to visit the 
Cardinal the following day for the purpose of making a 
communication to him on behalf of the Governor General. 
An appointment was made for his reception by the Cardinal 
at 4 o'clock in the afternoon. 

The following day Von der Lancken presented himself 
at the Archbishop's House three-quarters of an hour late, 
pleading a breakdown of his motor as the cause of the delay. 
He was conducted to the Cardinal. 

The interview lasted about two hours, and the follow- 
ing is a faithful account from notes made by the Cardinal 
himself immediately after the Baron's departure. 

As soon as they were seated the Baron, after informing 
the Cardinal that the document he was about to read had 
been drawn up by himself at the instance of his Excellency 
von Bissing and had afterward been approved by him, began 
the reading of four or five foolscap pages. The reading 
being ended, the Cardinal asked if he might have the docu- 
ment. The answer was in the negative: "No, I have my 
instructions not to give up the manuscript." 

"In that case, it will not be possible for me to reply as 
adequately as I could wish to each of the complaints tabu- 
lated in the Governor General's dispatch." 

"Oh, my mission is not to discuss, but to communicate 
to your Eminence the Governor General's views." 

"Still, it is needful that I should thoroughly understand 
his views. In a word, I presume the Governor General 
wishes to know whether or not I embrace his way of re- 
garding things." 

"Probably." 

"I believe I can recapitulate as follows, Baron, the com- 
munication which you have just read to me : 



INTERVIEW WITH VON DER LANCKEN 133 

1. Your pastoral, "Call to Prayer," which was read in 
all the churches, accompanied at times by commentaries 
which emphasize still more its trend, is an incitement of a 
political nature : it is bound to produce among the masses a 
political ferment, and, in fact, we have noted in more than 
one place, foresigns of a seditious outbreak. 

2. Your Eminence's attitude is so much the less justifi- 
able in that you have given the Governor General reason to 
hope that in the general interests of the country you would 
co-operate with him in pacifying the people and also in that 
you are well acquainted with the benevolent dispositions 
entertained by his Excellency Baron von Bissing. 

3. This attitude is with difficulty reconciled with your 
Eminence's frequent appeals to the Governor General for 
the granting of favors to your fellow countrymen. 

4. Lastly, the fact that your Eminence's letter, which 
was contemporaneous with the German troops' temporary 
setback of some kilometers on the line of battle, is so strik- 
ing that it is not susceptible of explanation save as the out- 
come of a preconcerted understanding of the Primate of 
Belgium with the allied armies ; and this serves to prove up 
to the hilt the political character of the pastoral letter. 

"To these four complaints, which I believe epitomize 
your communication, I desire to make at once a comprehen- 
sive reply." 

The Baron's silence confirmed the Cardinal in thinking 
that his recapitulation was accurate. 

"1. You say, Sir Baron, that my letter is seditious; that 
it inflames the people against the occupying authority, and 
that you perceive already here and there traces of popular 
excitement. 

"This is the third time that you have ventured to ad- 
dress me in language such as this. The first time was last 
January, when my letter on 'Patriotism and Endurance' 
appeared; the second time in June, when, deprived of my 
motorcar, I was compelled to walk on foot to Vilvorde in 
order to reach Brussels, and this is now the third time that 
you renew such language. 

"Has experience, then, not opened your eyes? 



i 3 4 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

"Despite your pessimistic anticipations, has not the coun- 
try continued calm? Is there a single Belgian during the 
year that you have been treading our soil under circum- 
stances known to you ; is there, I say, a single Belgian that 
has touched a hair of a single German head? Has a shot 
been fired at any of your men?" 

"No; because we hold a firm hand and keep a sharp 
lookout." 

"Not at all, sir; it is not because you hold a firm hand 
and keep a sharp lookout. You would certainly admit that 
if political passions, as you affirm, were inflamed against 
you, there would be found here and there behind a wall or 
from the security of an upper story a hand armed with a 
revolver to fire on you. And among the thousands of our 
men who risk their lives endeavoring to join our army some 
few would be found perchance to do you an evil turn in the 
dark. You, on the contrary, have used every expedient to 
provoke a rising of the people, but the obstinate calmness 
of our men has thwarted you." 

"So it is we who have provoked you? We are the pro- 
vokers?" 

"Yes, sir: you are the provokers; and I will immediately 
furnish the proof. 

"At the time my first pastoral was published, what did 
you do? You sent soldiers in the morning and night on 
bicycles and motorcycles and also in noisy motorcars through 
all the peaceful villages of Campine and Wallon district; 
you suddenly awakened out of their sleep the clergy, sacris- 
tans, servants in presbyteries, with threats on your lips and 
sometimes with a revolver in your hand; you made them 
open the churches and sacristies, the drawers of desks, in the 
hope of laying hands on my pastoral and this fine game 
lasted several days, and while in his letter of January 3rd 
the Governor General foretold, just as you do today, a 
rising of the people, the people remained calm in obedience 
to the counsels of long-suffering preached by us. Then as 
now, today, the Belgian people continued submissive, not 
because of you, but in spite of you. 



INTERVIEW WITH VON DER LANCKEN 135 

"And when I went to Brussels to sing a mass at St. 
Gudule, do you not recollect how you treated me? 

"In imagination, I can still see the rough fellow, who 
barred my way on the canal bridge at the city gate inso- 
lently demanding my identity papers." 

"Oh ! all our soldiers have not been brought up in draw- 
ing-rooms." 

"Nor ours either. Accordingly, it is not on this inten- 
tional insult that I wish to base my contention. If I have 
recalled this fact, it is to emphasize another, namely, that 
when several eye-witnesses, exasperated at this spectacle of 
impertinence, had respectfully applauded the Cardinal for 
having answered the demand addressed to him with an act 
of docility, one of your officers ordered a bayonet charge 
to be made on women and children, who, without uttering 
a word, had lavished upon me marks of respect. Was this, 
or was it not, calculated to provoke the people? 

"And the next day, and the next, how did you treat me? 

"After singing mass at St. Gudule I betook myself to 
the Institute of St. Louis, and at 6 o'clock in the evening I 
took my departure for a small country house I possessed 
at l'Hermite sous Braine-rAlleud. Already in the boule- 
vard of the Botanical Garden in front of St. Louis, two 
spies on bicycles awaited me and they followed my carriage 
all the way." 

"Perhaps some police officer had on his own initiative 
taken this step, but the authorities are not responsible." 

"Pardon me, sir, the authorities are responsible." 

"The Governor General?" 

"At any rate a high authority and here is the proof. 
The spies escorted my carriage, halting when we slackened 
our pace, quickening again when we descended an incline. 
Arrived at Alsemberg, three kilometers from l'Hermite, as 
night was falling, I went to the cure's residence and slept 
at the presbytery. The following day at 5 o'clock in the 
morning I set out on foot in the direction of l'Hermite. 
Scarcely had I left the village when I encountered three 
German soldiers on horseback coming toward me from the 
direction of Braine-l'Alleud. The moment they had passed 



136 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

me they turned bridle to accompany me to my destination. 
I learned later that the spies had gone during the early 
hours into the churches of Braine-l'Alleud and Alsemberg 
to see if the priest at the altar was not the Cardinal. There- 
fore, Baron, the spying was organized by some one who held 
authority both at Brussels and in the district of Nivelles, 
where Braine-rAlleud is situated; it was therefore a high 
authority — a very high authority." 

After these words his Eminence made a slight pause to 
see what impression he had made on his interlocutor; the 
Baron remained confused. The Cardinal continued: 

"And during the four days I passed in the country I 
had two sentinels who ostensibly guarded my little prop- 
erty, questioned the visitors, followed them when they left 
to ascertain the object of their visit: in fine, you assumed the 
air of people watching a criminal and trying to stifle a con- 
spiracy. 

"And if I were a sedition monger, Baron, what a splen- 
did game I might have played! What a lovely subject for 
a sensational pamphlet to appear at Paris or in London! 
In it I might have narrated the antics at Malines and your 
preposterous repression of the episcopal blessing and the 
mild gesture of my private secretary. But I refrained; and 
just as you found me unbending in carrying out my pastoral 
duties, so did I desire to pass over merely personal inci- 
dents. I deemed it prudent to retire for some days to 
l'Hermite in order to withdraw from any likely manifesta- 
tions of public sympathy. With your preconceived ideas 
regarding me, you imagined my retreat could have no other 
motive than revolutionary projects." 

"Oh! revolutionary, no." 

"Substitute seditious. See, then, Baron, how the alleged 
manipulation of the Belgian people's ill-will toward you 
existed only in your imagination, and the indications of fer- 
ment are merely the intrigues of your spies and the fuss 
made by your inquisitors. 

"The Belgian people are calm and patient, abiding their 
time. There were no francs-tireurs when your armies in- 
vaded our territory. I trust there will be none when you 



INTERVIEW WITH VON DER LANCKEN 137 

beat your retreat. Only lately I had occasion to address all 
the clergy of my diocese assembled at Malines for the clergy 
retreat, and I urged them to say to the people : 'The de- 
fense of our country must be left to our army; it is not your 
task to make irregular assaults on the enemy. Do not by 
your rashness justify the reproach that slanderous tongues 
brought against you at the outbreak of hostilities.' 

"Why, Baron, as to the heart of the Belgian people, 
know that you have not captured it, nor will you ever do so* 
Let me say with all freedom, and be not ruffled by the appar- 
ent rudeness of my words, the Belgians do you no evil and 
never will ; but in their hearts they hold your rule in detes- 
tation. That is the truth, and after a whole year's experi- 
ence, strange to say, you do not seem to grasp it. 

"Not rarely strangers, neutrals, Americans, Swiss, pass 
through here, and then naturally the war and the German 
occupation become the topic of discourse. Would you like 
to know the unanimous opinion of foreigners regarding 
you? The Germans, they say, have their points assuredly, 
but they lack psychology. 

"Is that the case ? You believe the world to be governed 
by abstract formulas? 

"You imagine that your method of ruling, successful as 
it may be in Germany, must needs succeed here. You grossly 
deceive yourselves. I have spent my life in teaching. In 
so doing I have learned that in a young man's education you 
must first learn to know him before applying formulas. To 
make laws and to apply them are two different matters. 
You seem to be ignorant of these primary truths; hence 
your mistake. We keep our hearts unsubdued, but we are 
patient. And what I said in the month of January to those 
who came to complain in the Governor General's name of 
my first pastoral, I repeat to you today. It is by giving 
our people the assurance that Belgium is and will remain 
a free country that we are able to preach patience and to see 
that it is practiced in spite of you. 

"I believe I have thus met the first complaint drawn up 
against me by the Governor General and I have at the same 
time implicitly furnished an answer to the second. 



138 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

"2. The Governor finds there is a lack of agreement be- 
tween the language of my pastorals and the kindly disposi- 
tion of which I gave him an assurance when he promised 
on his part to do all in his power to heal all our wounds." 

"Yes; the Governor General complains of your pas- 
torals, also of the commentaries, still more unrestrained, 
which certain members of the clergy made upon it." 

"I am pleased, Baron, that you call attention to the com- 
mentaries which you say the clergy has made on my pastoral 
letters. I am aware that in different circumstances you have 
repeated this assertion that the clergy talks politics in the 
pulpit, and you are wont to add: 'It is evident that in so 
doing the clergy obey an inspiration of the Cardinal's, since 
the same phrase, one of the Cardinal's phrases, is repeated 
by all the preachers.' Well, Baron, I should be delighted to 
learn what this celebrated phrase is. One day my secretary, 
M. Loncin, asked you for it in my name and you are said 
to have answered: 'Oh! that is an ancient story, I should 
have to refresh my memory to satisfy you.' Today, when I 
have the opportunity of seeing you in person, I ask you 
again, What is this oft-repeated phrase?" 

After a pause the Baron answered: "Oh! that is past; 
I speak now of commentaries on your last pastoral." 

"Be it so; I do not mind discussing them, but I would 
like to know all the same in what I have so gravely sinned 
in the past." 

A fresh pause, and the Baron uttered never a word. 

"I imagined it was understood that the Governor Gen- 
eral would point out to the bishops the complaints he had 
against the clergy. 

"Be good enough then to tell me who the priests of my 
diocese are that have made operations of a seditious na- 
ture; where, when, and in what terms did they make them?" 

"I thought of bringing with me the 'dossiers' which we 
have at the Governor General's office incriminating several 
priests, but at the last moment we thought it more advisable 
not to discuss them." 

"You will pardon me, sir, for regarding this proceed- 
ing as strange. You incriminate the clergy in my presence, 



INTERVIEW WITH VON DER LANCKEN 139 

you come here for that purpose, and when I request you 
to bring forward definite charges you reply: 'I am not 
bringing forward these charges in detail, as I do not wish 
to discuss them.' 

"In that case, all that remains for me to do is to talk 
about myself, of my feelings toward the Governor General, 
and what I think of his attitude in dealing with our coun- 
try. 

"My feelings have never varied, but you misunderstand 
them. 

"Of course, I desire to spare my country fresh suffer- 
ings; and when the Governor General declares to me that 
it is his ambition to heal our wounds rather than to embitter 
them, of course I am ready to second him. 

"But the Governor General's mistake, and yours too, be- 
gins the moment you imagine that you can treat us as 
submissive children. This you cannot do; Belgium is not a 
conquered country which you have the right to treat as your 
own: it is a belligerent nation which has preserved and hopes 
still to preserve her independence and her king. 

"What you would like to say is: 'Put aside for the 
moment all the past and let us unite to work for the resur- 
rection of the occupied country.' I know you have often 
used such language. 

"But how can we forget the past, which is only of 
yesterday? The ruins of our towns and villages are still 
smoking, our churches have been gutted, our families are 
in mourning, our children in misery. But the present, in 
which we live, on account of which we suffer, springs from 
this past which your troops have created for us. 

"I know, Baron, that in an interview with my secretary, 
Canon Loncin, you were good enough to acknowledge that 
not one of the priests shot by your armies at the time of 
invasion had been proved guilty. I am pleased with this 
overdue recognition of our innocence. But what has been 
proved in the case of our priests will be proved tomorrow, 
if you allow it, in the case of our massacred and imprisoned 
civilians. It is just this investigation we demand; and so 
long as our rights and the sincerity of our attitude have 



140 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

not had due recognition, between you and us no understand- 
ing is possible." 

"You would be quite wrong to doubt of the Governor 
General's kindly intentions. I, who am always near him 
and know him, I can assure you that he has the sincerest 
desire to do all he can for the Belgians." 

"I do not doubt the Governor General's sincerity. When 
I had the honor of seeing him, he spoke with an accent of 
sincerity which I believed then and believe still. But be- 
tween him and us there is a fundamental misunderstanding. 
He would wish to see us submissive, and we claim the right 
to remain interiorly, in heart and soul, unconquered. We 
respect your external regulations in so far as they are requi- 
site for the maintenance of public order; but our allegiance 
goes elsewhere. 

"Moreover, Baron, there is a wide margin between in- 
tention and action. Facts badly correspond with the friend- 
ly sentiments of which you give us the assurance." 

"I assure you, you misunderstand Baron von Biss- 
ing." 

"But come; these condemnations, one after the other, 
of young men, of priests who have tried to cross the frontier 
or have assisted others in the attempt, these condemnations 
to death, these shootings, etc. . . . are these proofs of kind- 
liness?" 

"Oh! it must be so; we cannot tolerate any breach of 
military regulations." 

"Be it so; it is necessary to a certain extent, in a sense. 
That I understand and I do not blame you for it. But good- 
will, or mere equity, would demand a milder application of 
your regulations. 

"This is how we understand your position: You are 
a mighty power confronted with a very small country. You 
have trampled our soil under foot without any invitation 
from us; and your own heads have acted as spokesmen in 
declaring that you were sorry to have to invade our terri- 
tory against your will, from necessity, and that you were 
desirous to repair as soon as possible the wrong done us. 

"Remembering the conditions under which you have 



INTERVIEW WITH VON DER LANCKEN 141 

taken possession of the greater part of our soil, you ought 
logically to have said to yourselves: 'We will make Bel- 
gium suffer as little as we can; we will show her all such 
consideration as is consistent with the needs entailed by our 
occupation of the country; for when we come to think of 
it, she was not our enemy, and after all it is we who have 
brought upon her the necessity of opposing our passage 
across her territory.' 

"Why then bar the road so roughly against a few young 
men who are burning with a desire to fulfill their patriotic 
duty at their comrades' side?" 

"But they would all go !" 

"And if they did all go, where is the great evil? You 
boast of having 8,000,000 soldiers! What can a few 
hundreds, or let us say a few thousands, more or less, do 
against you?" 

"It is not that; believe me, we are not afraid of them." 

"Very well, then, we are agreed. You need not be afraid 
of them. In that case let them pass. They will be prac- 
ticing a virtue which you Germans prize above all others, 
namely, military patriotism. It will, therefore, be a good 
thing. Then you will rid Belgium of youths disgruntled, 
humbled and without work, who at a given moment — I look 
at it from your own point of view — may become turbulent 
and dangerous to public order, which you wish and ought 
to preserve. Look, for example, at those young men from 
our universities who are champing the bit in forced inaction. 
Would it not be a thousand times better for them to be at 
the front? Or at least, if you will not let them go, if you 
think you ought to apply your military regulations in their 
case, let it be so; arrest all you may succeed in catching; 
prevent them from beginning their pranks again, but I beg 
you not to treat them as criminals. 

"And if a brave priest gives these dear young fellows, 
of whom, after all, Belgium is legitimately proud, some 
friendly advice, or puts them on their road, or in general 
affords them help, is this sufficient reason to imprison him, 
consign him to a dungeon, or deport him?" 



142 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

"You admit yourself, then, that the clergy is in favor of 
stirring up the young people." 

"No, I do not admit that; but I praise the clergy for 
keeping the flame of patriotism alive and for not refusing 
paternal assistance to a parishioner, a university man, or a. 
workman who has the courage to risk his life to go and 
join our army. And, as we happen to be talking about the 
clergy, will you allow me to speak to you in confidence?" 

"Yes, I am listening to you." 

"I could be more precise in what I am about to say by 
mentioning names, but discretion will not allow me to reveal 
them to you. I refer to a personage, and no one less than 
a member of your own entourage. To a priest who ex- 
pressed himself surprised at the frequency of arrests among 
priests and religious, this politician answered: 'They are 
revenging themselves on the priests for the attitude taken up 
by the Cardinal.' Is that good-will? Is that justice?" 

"Dear me ; who can have said that?" 

"You may ignore my confidence if you like; I have no 
wish to impose on your credulity. But I assert that I know 
the person we are talking about, and that the priest to 
whom he spoke, and who himself related this to me is abso- 
lutely a trustworthy witness."* 

"3. You were saying, Baron, that his Excellency the 
Governor General finds it difficult to reconcile my habitual 
attitude with my frequent appeals to him in favor of my 
countrymen. You have not, I believe, uttered the word 
ingratitude, but it is the one which would sum up this 
fresh complaint. Well, I am going to astonish you and, 
I fear, hurt your feelings." 

* Note — The personage referred to here is Trimborn, a Deputy of the 
Centre; and the priest he spoke to is the Superior of the "Aumoniers du 
Travail" — the Abbe Reyn. 

In a note signed with his own hand, the Abbe Reyn asserts that in 
the course of a conversation he had with Trimborn, he heard the latter 
declare that the heavy penalties inflicted on Belgian priests were the 
German Government's reply to the Cardinal's activities. 

To the Superior of the "Aumoniers du Travail," who asked for a 
reprieve for one of his priests who was ill and half blind and who had been 
condemned to three years' imprisonment, Trimborn replied that the Cardinal 
could easily obtain this favor, besides many others, if he would only go 
to Canossa and promise for the future to act differently vis-a-vis of the 
German Government. 



INTERVIEW WITH VON DER LANCKEN 143 

"Not at all; say what you think." 

"Well, Baron, I tell you frankly and beg you to repeat 
it to the Governor General. I have no gratitude toward 
you on the score you mention, because I owe you none." 

"Oh! Oh!" 

"Have a little patience; I will explain myself. There 
is a personal concession which you are willing to make me, 
and I am grateful for it. I mean the right to use a motor- 
car. 

"But in regard to requests, rather frequent, addressed 
to the Governor General, I admit the only things I have 
met with have been refusals. I am quite accustomed to 
reading in the first sentence of the answer: 'Ich bedauere' 
(I regret). Things have come to such a pass, that when 
appeals are made for my intervention with the Governor 
General, I am obliged to answer, and as a rule I do answer : 
'Dear Sir, or Madam, I should like to be of service to you, 
but I fear that I might do you more harm than good.' " 

"But I still assert that his Excellency the Governor Gen- 
eral is very well disposed." 

"The matter is very simple. On your return to Brus- 
sels, refer to your records ; and, if you can, confute me by 
telling me when and in what my requests have been acceded 
to. 

"I remember a case which was particularly painful to 
me. A seminarist, the Abbe G. Van der Elst, in whom I 
took an affectionate interest, was threatened with condemna- 
tion for having helped some young men to pass the frontiers 
of Holland." 

"Yes, I am acquainted with Abbe Van der Elst's case." 

"They even dared to suggest the death penalty for acts 
which every patriot must in his heart admire. 

"I was expecting, therefore, that the young seminarist 
would be condemned to prison, and in a pressing letter,* 
which I tried to make as respectful as possible, I had begged 
Baron von Bissing to declare that in case the young student 
were condemned, he might undergo the penalty in a Belgian 

* Note — This intervention in favor of Abbe Van der Elst took place 
on July 4, 191 5. 



i 4 4 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

prison so that he might have help in the pursuit of his 
studies." 

"But what happened then?" 

"As if they were anxious to give me proof of wishing 
to lacerate my heart, G. Van der Elst was deported to 
Germany immediately after his condemnation ; and to a lady 
who was weeping and pleading for a delay, saying: 'We 
know that the Cardinal of Malines has asked the Governor 
General to allow the condemned to do his sentence in St. 
Giles prison,' they answered: 'Nonsense; when he is in 
Germany he can always be sent back.' 

"You see, Baron, that my debt of gratitude is not heavy. 

"Only yesterday, I again addressed to the Governor 
General an appeal in favor of prisoners awaiting trial, 
especially the case of two religious, Fathers Quevit and Van 
Nylen, who are here in a dungeon at Malines, treated more 
harshly than those who are doing their sentence. I ask 
that they be allowed to say mass and to be looked upon only 
as accused men. I am curious to see what will be the upshot 
of my appeal." 

"You are right in drawing my attention to these re- 
ligious. I will look into your Eminence's appeal on my return 
to Brussels." 

"I thank you." 

4. The conversation about the bad treatment meted 
out to prisoners awaiting trial had taken a serious turn. 

When he came to the fourth point, the Cardinal smiled. 

"Baron," said he, "let us go through a little history. 
My pastoral letter is dated, if I remember right, the Feast 
of St. Matthew, that is to say, September 21st. You will 
admit, no doubt, that to arrange it, to have it printed, and 
to issue it to the clergy, a whole week was necessary. This 
brings us back to the 10th or 12th of September. At that 
date, the retreat of your troops had not yet taken place and, 
if I am well informed, our allies' offensive had not yet be- 
gun." * 

"But you might have known it was coming." 

"No, Baron, I did not know it. You are greatly mis- 

* Note — The Anglo-French offensive opened on September 24. 



INTERVIEW WITH VON DER LANCKEN 145 

taken about me. I am only a bishop and not more than a 
bishop; I am not in the secrets of our general headquar- 
ters. 

"You do not understand me; you judge me falsely. I 
hope that till the end I shall have the courage to do my 
duty — the whole of my duty as pastor of souls ; but I do not 
meddle with military affairs." 

"Then your Eminence does not disown your resistance 
to the occupying power?" 

"What resistance?" 

"Notably that which you reveal in your last pastoral." 

"Tell me, pray, where in it is resistance to the German 
authorities advocated? The Germans are not even once 
mentioned there." 

"Not mentioned, no. But one can read between the 
lines." 

"Oh ! indeed, Baron ; I am responsible for what I have 
written and signed, not, as you will admit, for what it 
pleases you to ascribe to me as the outcome of your sus- 
picions." 

"Nevertheless, we find that, taking their sermons as a 
whole, the clergy is more and more advocating resistance 
and meddling in politics." 

"I have already asked more than once to be kindly told 
who, where, when and how." 

"But your letter is itself an incentive to resistance." 

"This, Baron, brings us back to our starting point; and 
I believe I have proved to you by facts that experience is 
against your unfair accusations. 

"These words, politics, resistance, are vague; you should 
be more precise. If by 'resistance' you mean armed rebel- 
lion, recourse to violent measures, or inciting others to have 
recourse to them, then you are within your rights in for- 
bidding us to resist; and we assert on our side, that in this 
sense we abstain from resistance. 

"But if by resistance you understand the assertion of 
our rights, recourse to prayer, whether public or private, to 
obtain God's protection on our country and for the triumph 
of the sacred rights of patriotism — then, Baron, I am 



146 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

obliged in conscience to tell you that I will continue to resist 
you without flinching." 

"But, then?" 

"Then ? — you can do anything you please." 

At these words Baron von der Lancken got up. "I shall 
leave," said he, "to make my report to the Governor Gen- 
eral." 

Before he went out of the parlor, he turned to the Car- 
dinal. 

"I should like also to say a word to you about a con- 
versation which I have had. with Canon Loncin, the diocesan 
secretary. 

"One day a minister of the Imperial Government, pass- 
ing by Malines, visited the Cathedral and asked if there 
were no way of concealing * or rather repairing the huge 
hole in the side wall and of making urgent repairs to pre- 
vent more serious dilapidations. I told M. Loncin that the 
German Government was ready to grant a subsidy for this 
purpose. I do not know whether M. Loncin told you the 
answer he brought me, but I was astounded. He told me 
that he did not believe that the 'conseil de fabrique' — I be- 
lieve that is what you call the commission which deals with 
the temporalities of the church — was prepared to accept this 
offer. Nevertheless, I assure your Eminence that I had no 
afterthought. My intention was solely to manifest my in- 
terest in a work of art, a cathedral. I might have said to 
M. Loncin that if the Belgians did not want a subsidy be- 
cause it came from German hands, then it is not the Ger- 
mans who are acting as barbarians." 

"Baron," replied the Cardinal, "I am not ignorant of 
the gracious offer which you made to my secretary in your 
Government's name, and we do not know how to thank 
you enough for it. But surely you see that the question of 
the restoration of our churches is somewhat premature. 
Malines Cathedral has suffered, no doubt, and I know it 
better than anybody, since every Sunday I am present at 
functions, no longer in the majestic building of yore, but in 

•Note — The Baron seemed very concerned at having let escape the 
word "conceal," which badly disguised his thoughts. 



INTERVIEW WITH VON DER LANCKEN 147 

a large hall closed in as a makeshift with boards. But 
there are some people who have been more sorely tried than 
those of Malines. There are many parishes which have no 
longer a church, where worship is performed in an impro- 
vised hall, in a school, or clubrooms. That is where help is 
needed first and foremost." 

"Yes; but I do not speak of a new building. I know 
well that the subsidy we can offer you would not be suf- 
ficient for that; but we were thinking of the most urgent 
repairs necessary to a monument of art such as is your 
Cathedral." 

"The exact estimate has not been made — it is impos- 
sible to make it now — as to what the repairs of our metro- 
politan church would cost; but I am assured that the work 
would cost over a million francs; in which case, what do 
you expect to do toward it with a few thousand marks? 
The work in view is a considerable one which must be done 
according to plan and not piecemeal. It would be premature 
to set about the work at once. 

"M. Loncin must have told you that the 'conseil de 
fabrique,' of which I am president in my own right, is made 
up of seven members ; and he added, as he told me, that if I 
were to vote for the subsidy you have been kind enough to 
offer us the other members would vote against it. To be 
frank with you, I believe that M. Loncin has spoken the 
truth. We Belgians are indeed fastidious; we claim our 
rights, but we do not like favors." 

The interview ended with this statement, made with a 
smile, but in a firm, decided tone. 



CHAPTER XVIII 

TREATMENT OF RELIGIOUS AWAITING TRIAL IN THE MILI- 
TARY PRISONS AT MALINES AND AT LOUVAIN 

Several religious prosecuted for having abetted recruit- 
ing for the Belgian army in occupied territory had been, in 
consequence of the prisons being full, thrown into mili- 
tary cells at Malines and Louvain. Kept in the most rigor- 
ous seclusions; deprived, in spite of Von Bissing's promise, 
of the consolation of saying mass, the prioners had to pass 
the whole day long in a wretched narrow cell without win- 
dows and into which air and light could only enter through 
chinks left between planks forming the ceiling. 

The Cardinal, being informed of this severe treatment, 
asked Von Bissing to mitigate in some way this cruel state 
of affairs. He interceded on behalf of Fathers Quevit, 
O. P., and Van Nylen, S. J., Devroye, S. J., Mertens, S. J. 

In each case the Governor General showed himself ready 
to meet the Cardinal's appeal. He even went so far as 
to answer him by wire that his wishes would be acceded to. 
But his good intentions, real or apparent, had no effect. 
The Kreischefs of Malines and Louvain, on being re- 
quested by the Governor General to give him some infor- 
mation about the religious in question, sent back lying re- 
ports affirming that the prisoners had made no complaint. 
Von Bissing, on the strength of these reports, told the Car- 
dinal that he had been making groundless complaints and 
he even reproached him with being ill-informed of what 
went on in the prisons. The Cardinal refused to be dis- 
comfited. In his letters of November 6th and 12th he re- 
turned to the charge and proved without doubt that the 
Kreischefs reports were inaccurate. 

The conditions of the prisoners continued unchanged in 

148 



RELIGIOUS AWAITING TRIAL 149 

spite of the Cardinal's pressing and repeated endeavors. 
On one point alone did he obtain satisfaction. After nego- 
tiations, which went on for more than three weeks, arrange- 
ments were made by the German military administration 
for priests and religious detained under suspicion to say mass 
in prison. 

Archbishop' s House, M alines, 

October 7th, 1915. 
To His Excellency Baron von Bissing, Governor General, 
Brussels. 

Sir — I consider it my duty to call your kind attention to 
a state of affairs existing at Malines and about which I 
feel sure you have no knowledge. 

Two priests, both of them religious, Father Quevit, a 
Dominican, and Father Van Nylen, a Jesuit, are being de- 
tained on suspicion, the latter during the last few days, the 
former for seven weeks, in a dungeon of the Malines prison. 
They are deprived of holy mass, are condemned to a life of 
complete idleness, and altogether pass their days in de- 
moralizing surroundings. 

That needful measures should be taken to prevent the 
escape of the prisoners, one can understand; but surely youij 
Excellency does not wish to impose upon them worse pun- 
ishment than what condemned criminals have to suffer. 

I put the situation before your Excellency with confi- 
dence, and I beg you to accept the expression of my sincere 
esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

Governor General of Belgium, Brussels, 
P. No. 18495. October 13th, 1915. 

To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of Malines. 
In reply to your Eminence's esteemed letter dated 7th 
instant, I have the honor to inform you that I have given 
immediate orders for Father Quevit and Father Van Nylen 
to be treated in accordance with their rank. I have, there- 
fore, arranged for them to be able to say mass during the 



150 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

time their case is being judicially investigated, also for them 
to be treated in all things in a manner becoming their sta- 
tion and to be given all such freedom as is compatible with 
their position as prisoners awaiting trial. 

I offer your Eminence the expression of my sincere 
esteem and I have the honor to be your devoted servant. 

(Signed) Baron von Bissing, 

Major General. 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 
October 15th, 19 15. 
To His Excellency Baron von Bissing, Governor General, 
Brussels. 

Sir — I thank your Excellency for the kind feelings shown 
in the letter with which you honored me under date 13th 
instant. — P. No. 18495. 

Since the day on which I intervened with your Excel- 
lency on behalf of the Rev. Fathers Quevit and Van Nylen, 
the former has been condemned to be deported to Germany. 
The latter is detained in the Lancers' barracks at Malines 
and is being forced, I am assured, to follow the common life 
of a prisoner; and that yesterday, Friday, he had not as yet 
obtained the authorization which your Excellency was kind 
enough to lead him to expect; that, namely, to say mass. 

I have no doubt that your Excellency's instructions in 
this respect will be promptly carried out. 

Accept, sir, the expression of my sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

Governor General's Office, Brussels, 
P. 20001. October 30M, 19 15. 

To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of Malines. 

Your Eminence's last letter dated October 15th, 19 15,. 
greatly astonished me, for it has been proved that my or- 
ders have been carried out without the least hitch. 

The necessary steps were taken immediately for impris- 
oned priests to say mass. Exceptions to the prison routine 



RELIGIOUS AWAITING TRIAL 151 

had already been made previously in favor of ecclesiastics, 
in the sense that they were treated in a way worthy of their 
rank; quite a number of exceptional permissions had already 
been granted them. The priests we are speaking of have 
never made a request nor offered any complaint, but to 
the questions put them they replied that they desired noth- 
ing. Your Eminence must have received information of an 
altogether false character to think yourself justified in re- 
proaching me for the manner in which ecclesiastics are being 
treated. I inclose with my letter a copy of a report which 
the Kreischef of Malines made in obedience to my order; 
your Eminence will find therein a proof of my contention. 

I beg your Eminence to confirm my statement that you 
have been misinformed regarding the treatment hitherto 
meted out to ecclesiastics. 

I offer your Eminence the expression of my sincere 
esteem and I have the honor to be your devoted servant. 

(Signed) Baron von Bissing, 

Major General. 

COPY 

The Imperial Kreischef, Brussels, 
Tgh. No. 97. October 27th, 19 15. 

To the Military Government of Antwerp. 

In reply to the order received by telephone today, fol- 
lowing on the telephonic order of the 19th instant and 
the written order of the nth instant, relative to the manner 
in which ecclesiastics awaiting trial a"re treated, I make the 
following declaration: 

Among those incarcerated at the Malines prison, there 
were to be found on the 10th of this month two ecclesias- 
tics, Fathers Quevit and Van Nylen. Father Quevit, sen- 
tenced to two and one-half years' penal servitude for at- 
tempted military treason, was, following on the order of the 
nth inst., which I have mentioned above, deported to Ger- 
many. Father Van Nylen, who is likewise under strong 
suspicion of military treason and who is still for the present 
detained on suspicion under guard of the military police, has 



152 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

had during his sojourn here a room to himself. He is 
treated with all the deference due to his rank; every possible 
facility — long walks, permission to write, to receive and pay 
visits, good food, etc. — has been given him. The facts have 
been corroborated by the Kreisant and the military police. 
We have always tried to avoid bringing ecclesiastics into 
contact with common prisoners. At the Lancers' barracks 
there are practically none but political prisoners; they are 
watched only to prevent their communication with one an- 
other. 

Thus Father Van Nylen, in reply to all the questions 
put him by the head of the police as to any complaints he 
might have to make, has always declared that he desired 
nothing more than what he already had. 

He has never made any request to say mass, nor has 
Father Quevit during the whole of his stay ever manifested 
this desire. The Father Provincial and prior of all the 
Dominican monasteries in Belgium in the course of his 
numerous visits to the police station has never mentioned the 
matter. 

That is the reason why no steps have ever been taken to 
fit up a room for the celebration of holy mass. 

The execution of the order of October nth, 1915, was 
fraught with certain difficulties, for we had no suitable or 
appropriate place at our disposal. We had also to meet 
the difficulty of surveillance. We had to take into account 
the scarcity of guards and the fact also that five prisoners 
had already succeeded in escaping from the barracks. 

After frequent negotiations with the Catholic chaplain 
Gierlichs, a room possessing all the requirements for a 
chapel has been fitted up at the Lancers' barracks. We have 
considered the requests made me by the chaplain during 
a conversation I had with him; we have obtained for him 
thirty chairs, four benches, a chandelier and a big stove. 

For the time being, the question of servers at mass is 
still in suspense. The priest wanted to have as server a 
prisoner who is detained on suspicion after trying to pass 
the frontier. For easily understood reasons, this permis- 



RELIGIOUS AWAITING TRIAL 153 

sion cannot be granted. A Catholic soldier has been ap- 
pointed to fulfill this office. 

The Kreischef. 
(Signed) Jochmus, 

Colonel. 

The report of the Kreischef is full of inaccuracies and 
errors. Father Van Nylen, he says, had a room all to him- 
self : that is to say, he was lodged in a filthy military dun- 
geon like all the others. At broad noon one could not see 
inside of it; the only light there was came in through crev- 
ices in the iron beams supporting the ceiling. 

The prisoners' walks took place in a little back yard 
fifteen yards in length. They lasted at first half an hour, 
later on an hour. When the time for a walk came the 
father had to repair to the yard, no matter what the weather 
might be. 

He never asked to say mass, affirms the report. That 
is false. At the German chaplain's first visit, Father Van 
Nylen put his painful case before him, insisting especially 
on his privation of holy mass. The chaplain went to the 
Kommandantur; but there he was told that they could not 
grant imprisoned priests facilities for saying mass. Only 
after three weeks, following a visit from the Governor Gen- 
eral's chaplain, did Father Van Nylen receive the much- 
desired permission. 

One day the Kreischef himself went to the prisoner's cell 
and asked if he had any complaints to make. The father 
told him that it was against all law to keep any one in 
prison on suspicion for three months in a dungeon where 
only young soldiers were confined and that for only a few 
days. The only answer he had was the Kreischef's asser- 
tion that it was Belgians who had built this dungeon and that 
there were no other places at his disposal. 

The Kreischef excels in audacity when he asserts in his 
report that Father Van Nylen "has always declared that 
he desired nothing more than what he already had." 

The Cardinal, in his letter of November 6th, puts 
things in their true perspective and cleared himself of von 



154 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

Bissing's allegation that he was misinformed regarding what 
took place in the prisons alluded to. 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 

November 6th, 1915. 
To His Excellency Baron von Bissing, Governor General, 
Brussels. 

Sir — On November 1st I received the letter P. 20001 
with which your Excellency honored me dated October 30th. 
In it you express the opinion that the information contained 
in my letters of October 7th and 16th about the conditions 
under which Fathers Quevit and Van Nylen are imprisoned 
is without foundation. 

I cannot do better than put the facts before your Excel- 
lency and give you the precise dates. Then you yourself 
will see that it is the unvarnished truth. 

My first letter is dated October 7th. In it I told your 
Excellency that Fathers Quevit and Van Nylen, though 
merely under suspicion, were being kept in a dungeon. I 
asked for a mitigation of their lot and facilities for saying 
mass. 

Very kindly on October 13th your Excellency wrote to 
me that as the result of orders given immediately by you, 
the priests' accommodation would without delay be altered 
to suit their dignity and that steps would be taken to enable 
them to say mass so long as the judicial investigation of 
their case lasted. 

I had all the more reason to hope that the two religious 
would not have to wait long before enjoying the improve- 
ment asked for, because, on the occasion of a visit he paid 
me on October 8th, the Baron von der Lancken seemed dis- 
posed to second my request to your Excellency. 

This is what actually took place: On Saturday, Oc- 
tober 9th, in any case, so I am assured, certainly before 
October 13th, Father Quevit was taken out of his dungeon 
to be tried, was found guilty and immediately deported 
to Germany. Therefore, neither did he know anything 
about a mitigation of his sentence nor had he the satisfaction 
of saying mass. 



RELIGIOUS AWAITING TRIAL 155 

As regards Father Van Nylen, after having been shut 
up on July 31st in a dungeon at the barracks in Louvain 
and then transferred to the jail of the same town, he was 
imprisoned in a dungeon at the Lancers' barracks in Malines 
on October 2d. On October 26th he was still there and 
had not as yet obtained leave to say mass. 

It was only on Monday the 25th that the provincial mili- 
tary chaplain, Father Gierlichs, came to me with the news 
that leave was going to be given to Father Van Nylen to 
say mass, but that the requisites for this purpose did not 
exist at the barracks. Immediately a secretary from the 
Archbishop's House, Canon Van Olmen, was commissioned 
to procure all the necessary requisites; a building was pre- 
pared on the 26th and on the 27th the father had the 
consolation of saying his first mass in prison. Since the 
27th your Excellency's orders concerning the celebration of 
mass have been carried out. 

Relying on a report dated October 27th of the Kreis- 
chef M. Jochmus, your Excellency reproaches me with 
having complained without reason of the treatment meted 
out to religious detained in prison. Your Excellency ex- 
presses yourself as follows : "Your Eminence must there- 
fore have been quite misinformed when you think it right 
to reproach me with the way in which the clergy is being 
treated." 

Nevertheless, truth compels me to uphold the correct- 
ness of my communications, 

I have questioned several witnesses whose good faith is 
beyond all cavil, who have themselves gone through life in 
the dungeon here or have been allowed to enter one on the 
occasion of a visit to the prisoners. 

This is substantially what they declare: The room 
which the prisoners are shut up in is very narrow and badly 
ventilated; there is neither table nor chair to be found in it; 
in general, there is not the cleanliness there should be; there 
is hardly any light; a witness who occupied the cell in the 
middle of summer asserts that then he could hardly read 
between 10 a. m. and 2 p. m. ; Father Van Nylen has, dur- 
ing the few weeks of his detention, used as a makeshift at 



156 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

least two dozen candles. Under these circumstances the 
prisoners find themselves condemned to a sort of stagna- 
tion, to enforced idleness and to an oppressive boredom; 
and from 3 or 4 p. m. till the next morning they remain per- 
force reclining on a mattress, if a friend has been good 
enough to supply them with one, otherwise on a bed of 
straw. Every one must admit that such a regime is demor- 
alizing. 

And when one considers that several of those who are 
enduring for weeks or even for months at a time these 
mental tortures and these privations have not been tried 
and have not been declared guilty, but are merely awaiting 
trial; when one knows that the accusations brought against 
them relate to acts which the Government no doubt has a 
strict right to prevent, but which are none the less required 
by a patriotism which calls for respect, one cannot help 
thinking that your Excellency must be ignorant of the abuses 
which are committed under cover of your authority; and 
one cannot give up hoping that, when better informed, you 
will no longer tolerate such things. 

It is possible that Father Van Nylen's fate will soon 
be decided. But, if I have intervened in the case of two 
religious who had a special claim to my protection, never- 
theless I should like your Excellency to extend your benev- 
olence to all prisoners not yet found guilty. 

Please accept, sir, the assurance of my sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

Hardly had the preceding letter been dispatched when 
the Cardinal learned of the arrest of Fathers Devroye and 
Mertens, S. J. He immediately intervened on their behalf 
to obtain favorable conditions for their internment. 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 

November jth, 191 5. 
To His Excellency Baron von Bissing, Governor General, 
Brussels. 
Sir — At the risk of importuning your Excellency, I find 
myself obliged to supplement my letter of yesterday. I 



RELIGIOUS AWAITING TRIAL 157 

have just had news of the condemnation of the Rev. Father 
Van Nylen and also of the internment of Father Devroye 
in a dungeon at Malines barracks. This excellent man, 
Father Devroye, is a friend and cousin of mine. It is pain- 
ful for me to think that he had to pass Saturday night last 
on straw in an unhealthy cell such as I described to your 
Excellency yesterday. 

I learn on good authority that Father Mertens, of Brus- 
sels, has been put into a cell at Louvain under the same 
conditions. 

Again I appeal to your Excellency's humane and just 
feelings. 

Father Devroye suffers from very poor health ; I beg of 
your Excellency to send a doctor to him as soon as possible 
to examine him. He could not bear up long under the 
treatment he is undergoing. 

Accept, your Excellency, the expression of my sincere 
esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

Two days after, von Bissing sent the Cardinal from his 
residence at Trois Fontaines the following telegram : 

Trots Fontaines, 
November gth, 19 15. 
Cardinal Mercier, Malines. 

In accordance with your Eminence's wish, I have given 
orders by telephone for an improvement to be carried out 
in the treatment of the imprisoned priests referred to in 
your letter. 

The Governor General. 
(Signed) Baron von Bissing, 

Major General. 

The Cardinal hastened to thank von Bissing for the 
kindness shown by him to the religious in prison awaiting 
trial : 



158 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 

November 10th, 19 15. 
To His Excellency Baron von Bissing, Governor General, 
Brussels. 
Sir — Your Excellency has been kind enough to assure 
me by wire last night that religious imprisoned under sus- 
picion would for the future have better accommodations. 
I am very grateful to you for this assurance, and I take 
the liberty to insist that all suspected prisoners should be 
treated with the same fairness. 

This very evening the news has reached me that a 
civilian prisoner in poor health, M. Wasnair, whom I had 
the honor to recommend to your Excellency, has been re- 
stored to his family. 

For this I am grateful to your Excellency, and beg 
you to accept the expression of my sincere esteem. 
(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

The Governor General forwarded to his Eminence a 
copy of the Kreischef of Malines's report on the conditions 
of Father Devroye's internment. 

Governor General of Belgium, Brussels, 

November 10th, 19 15. 
To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of 
Malines. 

As a sequel to my wire of yesterday, I have the honor 
to inclose herewith the copy of a report from the Kreischef 
of Malines and a bulletin of the army medical service about 
Father Devroye, who is detained under suspicion in the 
prison of this town. From these documents it is clear 
that the priest interested has no ground of complaint against 
the treatment to which he is subjected, that he is well and 
quite capable of undergoing the prison regime. 

About Father Mertens, imprisoned at Louvain, notice 
has been given me through the telephone that he was in 
the same condition as Father Devroye. I have not yet re- 
ceived the written report. I intend to pass it on to you 
immediately when I receive it. 



RELIGIOUS AWAITING TRIAL 159 

I present to your Eminence the expression of my sincere 
esteem and have the honor to be your very devoted ser- 
vant. 

(Signed) Baron von Bissing, 

Major General. 

Copy of the Kreischef's report inclosed with the preced- 
ing letter : 

Kreischef's Office, Malines, 
No. 7049 77. November 10th, 1915. 

To the General Government of Belgium, Brussels. 

In execution of the order communicated to me by tele- 
phone on November 9th, 19 15, I forward herewith a medi- 
cal report on the state of health of Father Devroye interned 
in the military prison at Malines. 

At the time the doctor was drawing up his report, an 
officer of the "Kreisamt" visited the cell in which Father 
Devroye was lodged. 

The cell is 3.20 meters long, 1.95 meters broad and 4 
meters high. The walls are whitewashed with lime. Father 
Devroye is not obliged to sleep, as has been said, on straw 
placed immediately on the floor, but he has at his disposal 
a camp bedstead furnished with a straw mattress. He has 
only slept one night on this mattress. The day following 
his arrival at the prison, the 7th instant, he received a hair 
mattress which he uses still. A sufficient number of clean 
woolen blankets have been given him, as is proved by the 
fact that he has sent one back. 

The warming of the cell is secured by a stove placed 
in the corridor of the prison. At the time of the visit to the 
prisoner the temperature there was sufficient. A warmer 
cell nearer to the stove was offered to Father Devroye. 
He refused it, saying that his was sufficiently heated. The 
lighting at night comes from a lamp attached to the wall. 

The inquiry has proved that Father Devroye is treated 
with the deference due to his rank. The head of the local 
military police asked him whether there was anything he 
wanted done. The father answered that he was content, 



160 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

had no complaints to make about the food and was satisfied 
with his state of health. That his health is excellent is 
proved by the fact that during his interview with the Car- 
dinal he remained standing for three-quarters of an hour 
before an open window, and on a remark being made about 
this, he said he was well and had no need for a scarf. 

I would also remark that the prison where those de- 
tained on suspicion are confined formerly served as a jail for 
Belgian soldiers. The fitting up of the cells dates only a 
few years back. It answers to all hygienic requirements. 

(Signed) Jochmus, 

Colonel and Kreischef. 

The medical bulletin signed by Doctor Groos affirmed 
that Father Devroye was in good health and capable of 
enduring prison life. 

This report of the Kreischef's is just as inaccurate as 
that which the Governor General sent previously about the 
conditions under which Father Van Nylen was interned. 

The Cardinal was authorized to visit Father Devroye. 
They were ashamed to take him to the prisoner's cell, as 
had nevertheless been done a few days previously for Father 
Thibaut, provincial of the Society of Jesus. The interview 
took place in a hall of the barracks which served as a 
chapel. Father Devroye did not remain standing for three- 
quarters of»an hour before an open window, as the Kreischef 
asserted; but the prisoner and his visitor sat on a common 
bench without a back which happened to be near at hand. 

Far from refusing a scarf, Father Devroye accepted 
eagerly everything that could protect him from the cold, 
for the fire in the corridor only served to warm the sentry. 

It is ironical to say that the father sent back a blanket 
because he had too many. The Kreischef, no doubt, means 
the filthy rag which the father was obliged to make the best 
of for the first night and which was replaced subsequently 
with blankets sent to him from the residency. 

As regards the lamp, it never existed save in the imagina- 
tion of the Kreischef. Father Devroye had to find the light 
himself with a few candles he had managed to procure. 



RELIGIOUS AWAITING TRIAL 161 

The walls of the cell, says the report, were whitewashed 
with lime. It would have been more exact to say that they 
"had been whitewashed with lime," for the white color was 
entirely hidden by dust and spiders' webs. 

The Cardinal, in acknowledging the report, set it down 
at its true value: 

Archbishop' s House, Malines, 

November 12th, 1915. 
To His Excellency Baron von Bissing, Governor General, 
Brussels. 

Sir — Yesterday afternoon I received the letter dated 
November 10th in which your Excellency tries to reassure 
me about the health of Father Devroye and the conditions 
under which he is imprisoned. 

The Kreischef Jochmus's report, inclosed with your Ex- 
cellency's letter, contains several points which call for re- 
mark. I noted at the first time of reading certain inac- 
curacies on which I have on other occasions passed com- 
ment. 

Would your Excellency like a specimen ? 

It is said that during our interview, lasting three-quar- 
ters of an hour, which your Excellency was kind enough to 
grant me with Father Devroye, the latter was standing in 
front of an open window: "dass er bei mit dem Kardinal 
gefuehrten Unterredung }i Std. lang am offenen Fenster 
gestanden hat" (during his interview with the Cardinal, he 
remained standing for three-quarters hour before an open 
window) . 

In this case, at all events, I can speak from personal 
knowledge. During that three-quarters of an hour Father 
Devroye was seated on my left in a closed room. 

Father Van Duerm, who accompanied me on this visit, 
is ready to confirm my statement. 

The room where we held our meeting was that in which 
the father had been able to say mass that morning. The 
windows of this room look on to a public square, and we 
were able as we went in and out to perceive five or six sol- 
diers conversing together. 



162 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

Is it for a moment to be admitted that in an intimate 
conversation with a relative and a friend we should have 
exchanged confidences near an open window within earshot 
of an undiscerning and profane audience? 

I thank your Excellency for the relaxation you have 
granted in the treatment of Fathers Devroye and Mertens 
and beg you to accept the assurance of my sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

After the condemnation of Fathers Devroye and Van 
Nylen, von Bissing told his Eminence that he could not 
make use of his right of reprieve in the case of Father 
Van Nylen, but that he granted to Father Devroye a partial 
reprieve : 

Governor General's Office, Brussels, 
IHb. T. L. No. 7465. November 13^/2, 19 15. 

To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of 
Malines. 

As regards the sentences passed in due legal manner on 
Father Rector Devroye and Father Van Nylen, I have the 
honor to communicate the following: 

Father Devroye has been sentenced in the first place to 
a year's imprisonment for having abetted the escape from 
Belgium, without the necessary authorization, of a young 
Belgian, George Wahis, aged seventeen, and, secondly, to 
three months' imprisonment for having, as director of an 
educational establishment, organized in his classes during 
the occupation anti-German propaganda. Considering, how- 
ever, that in the Wahis affair the accusation was grounded 
on the assertions of a young man, and that the latter, in 
the course of the various judicial examinations he had to 
undergo, made statements somewhat vague and of a contra- 
dictory character, and that in consequence the guilt of Father 
Devroye cannot be proved with any certitude, I agree on 
this ground to remit the penalty to which the accused has 
been sentenced. On the other hand, it has been proved be- 
yond doubt that Father Devroye organized in the educa- 
tional establishment confided to his care anti-German propa- 



RELIGIOUS AWAITING TRIAL 163 

ganda.* Similar acts within the reach of a professor who 
can exercise influence over youths appear to me altogether 
of a nature to favor the spread of views which, in the inter- 
ests of the defense of the realm, cannot be tolerated in 
occupied territory. To my great regret, I cannot alter the 
penalty inflicted on Father Devroye under this head. 

Again, as regards Father Van Nylen, the facts of which 
he is accused were fully established during the trial and his 
guilt proved to a certainty. I am sorry not to have been 
able up to now to make use of my right of granting him 
a reprieve. 

Your devoted servant, 

(Signed) Baron von Bissing, 

Major General and Governor General. 

The Cardinal thanked von Bissing as follows : 

Archbishop' s House, Malines, 

November 17 th, 19 15. 
To His Excellency Baron von Bissing, Governor General, 
Brussels. 
Sir — The letter with which your Excellency has honored 
me dated November 13th brings me the news that Father 
Devroye has been granted a partial reprieve. I am glad 
of this good news and am deeply grateful to your Excel- 
lency for it. 

At the end of your letter, your Excellency says that 
you have not as yet been able to make use of your preroga- 
tive in favor of Father Van Nylen. The remark "not as 
yet" leaves room for hope. 

Please accept, sir, the assurance of my sincere esteem. 
(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

The Cardinal had already intervened in favor of Father 
Mertens, S. J., arrested on the charge of having abetted 

* Note — The pretext for bringing this accusation against Fr. Devroye 
was that the German detectives, during their official visit of the premises 
of St. Michael's College, came upon some exercises done by the pupils, 
which they had illustrated with French and English flags. 



164 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

Belgians of military age in passing the frontier. Von Biss- 
ing, according to the promise he made in his letter of 
November ioth, communicated to his Eminence the report 
of Luebbert, Kreischef of Louvain, on the conditions of the 
said prisoner's internment: 

Government General of Belgium, Brussels, 
P.N. 21726. November i\th, 1915. 

To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of 
Malines. 

I have the honor to send your Eminence herewith a copy 
of the Kreischef of Louvain's report regarding the condi- 
tion of Father Mertens's internment, who is detained on 
suspicion in the prison of this town. I am also sending 
you under the same cover a copy of the result of a medical 
examination of his state of health. 

At the same time, I take the liberty of informing you 
that I have drawn up the scheme of an order whose pur- 
pose is to secure for priests detained on suspicion conditions 
consonant with their rank. Nevertheless, I would observe 
that in small places we often lack for prisoners awaiting 
trial such suitable quarters as I certainly desire and as I shall 
do my best to secure. 

I should be exceedingly glad if in future I were spared 
the duty of having to arrest priests on the charge of hav- 
ing infringed existing laws and my decrees. 

I offer your Eminence the expression of my sincere 
esteem and have the honor to be your devoted servant. 

(Signed) Baron von Bissing, 

Major General. 

Copy of the Kreischef of Louvain's report inclosed with 
the preceding letter: 

notice 

Kreisamt of Louvain, 
Louvain, gth November, 191 5. 
The priest Mertens has been arrested at the request of 
the criminal police and is detained on suspicion since the 



RELIGIOUS AWAITING TRIAL 165 

3rd instant in a dungeon at the infantry barracks. He is 
under grave suspicion of having obtained recruits for the 
enemy army among Belgians of military age. 

He is lodged in a cell that no one can complain of. He 
has a woolen mattress, blankets and a pillow. He enjoys 
all the liberty allowed prisoners awaiting trial. He has 
leave to order his own meals, to read and to write ; he may 
walk in the yard for an hour in the morning and an hour 
in the afternoon; his cell is lighted, and he has a table 
and a chair at his disposal. 

To my question whether he had any complaints to make 
or whether he was ill, he answered me "No." He has never 
complained of ill-usage. 

The medical certificate regarding Father Mertens's state 
of health is inclosed with this letter. 

(Signed) Euebbert, 

Colonel and Kreischef. 

The medical certificate testified that Father Mertens's 
health was good enough to allow him to undergo prison 
regime. 

The report signed by the Kreischef from the point of 
view of inaccuracy yields in nothing to the report addressed 
to the Governor General by the Kreischef of Malines and 
which we have treated of above. 

The cell, "which no one could complain of," as Father 
Mertens tells us, was in reality a dungeon reserved for 
drunkards and insubordinate soldiers. A Belgian soldier 
could not lodge there for more than three days without 
special permission from superior authority. Father Mer- 
tens stayed there thirty days. The dungeon had become a 
veritable dog-hole. It reeked with a nauseous smell, and 
the floor was so dirty that it was impossible to make out 
the color of the flags. No means of heating; no windows, 
not even bull's-eyes. The air and light only penetrated this 
hovel through cracks in the ceilings made of iron beams. 

The so-called woolen mattress was a finger's breadth in 
thickness and as hard as the plank on which it rested. For 
covering a filthy, stained rag; for pillow a beam. For 



1 66 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

nourishment the prisoner received three times a day some 
bad bread and a kind of black broth as little appetizing as 
possible. 

Luebbert, the Kreischef, paid a visit to Father Mer- 
tens. He was indignant at the way the prisoner was treated, 
saying that it was not right to subject a priest to so humiliat- 
ing a regime. He allowed a pillow to be brought him, a 
traveling rug and to receive regularly the food supplied by 
the College of Louvain. Luebbert always showed himself 
well disposed toward Father Mertens. He was, more- 
over, according to all the Belgians who had any dealings 
with him, a just and a loyal man. For this reason Father 
Mertens thinks that the report addressed to the Governor 
General was drawn up by the police and that the Kreischef 
must have signed it without even taking the trouble to read 
it. 

The Cardinal, always hoping that the good intentions 
which von Bissing seemed to show would end by having 
some good effect, thanked him for the steps he had taken 
to better the treatment of priests detained in prison: 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 

November i%th } 1915. 
To His Excellency Baron von Bissing, Governor General, 
Brussels. 
Sir — I have the honor to acknowledge your Excellency's 
letter No. 21726 concerning Father Mertens's detention. 

I am particularly obliged to your Excellency for the 
arrangements you have ordered to be made so that ecclesias- 
tics imprisoned under suspicion may receive the treatment 
due to their dignity. May I express the wish that all per- 
sons under suspicion, lay as well as ecclesiastic, should reap 
the benefit of your good will? From the judicial stand- 
point, indeed, the situation is exactly the same. They have 
not been found guilty and therefore should not be treated 
as such. 

Accept, sir, the assurance of my sincere esteem. 
(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 



RELIGIOUS AWAITING TRIAL 167 

Archbishop's House, M alines, 

December gth, 19 15. 
To His Excellency Baron von Bissing, Governor General, 
Brussels. 

Sir — I thank your Excellency with all my heart for the 
promise you made me in your letter of December 4th — No. 
22489* — that in future imprisoned priests either awaiting 
their trial or actually interned shall be treated as becomes 
their dignity. 

If I have pressed your Excellency to obtain for laymen 
also during the period of investigation prior to their trial 
the benefit of a milder regime, it is not because I want to 
enter upon a discussion of this matter with your Excellency, 
but simply for the reason that equity and charity urge me 
to make an appeal to the prerogative, which I should like 
to share with your Excellency, of being able to alleviate 
my brethren's sufferings. 

Accept, my dear Governor General, the expression of 
my sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of M alines. 

♦Note — This letter was never found. 



CHAPTER XIX 

SERMONS PREACHED BY THE CLERGY 

In his interview with the Cardinal concerning the pas- 
toral "An Appeal to Prayer," Baron von der Lancken had 
already complained in the Governor General's name of the 
abuse which, according to him, priests made of the liberty 
of speech granted them. The Cardinal having asked for 
precise details, the Baron answered that he did not wish 
to bring about a discussion on this subject, as he had not 
brought with him the documents in possession of the General 
Government incriminating a number of priests. 

Time and again Von Bissing returned to this subject. 
Setting aside the generalities to which he had confined him- 
self hitherto, he accused by name certain priests of giving 
vent in their sermons to strong feelings of a political char- 
acter : 

Governor General's Office, Brussels, 

November 6th, 19 15. 
To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of 
Malines.* 
In consequence of verbal representations made recently 
by the head of the political department, I take the liberty 
to point out to your Eminence that priests continue, when 
preaching, to abuse the liberty given them as ministers of 
worship. Among the numerous cases which have been 
brought to my notice I will only put forward the follow- 
ing: 

At the Lourdes grotto, at Laeken, preachers are con- 
tinually uttering political manifestoes. On October 14th 

*Note — The original of this letter has not been found. There only exists 
one translation of it in the archives of the Archbishop's house. 

168 



SERMONS BY THE CLERGY 169 

one of them went so far as to touch openly and directly 
on the recruiting of the Belgian army. His words must 
have been understood by young Belgians as an invitation 
to disobey my orders, about the sense of which there could 
be no doubt. The preacher gave it out as certain that 12. 
per cent only of the Brussels people fit for military service 
had rejoined the army, while 80 per cent of the province 
had passed over the frontier and had enlisted. The preacher 
knew what he was doing, for he knew of young people who 
had been punished for violating my decrees. 

As I have declared several times to your Eminence, I 
think that the guilt of these priests deserves some extenua- 
tion from the fact that they feel themselves encouraged 
by the formal or tacit consent of their ecclesiastical superiors. 
Nevertheless, I shall be forced to make the preacher of the 
Laeken sermon responsible if a stop is not put to those 
inconsiderate proceedings in some other way. Consequently, 
I beg your Eminence to let me know whether I may count 
on some disciplinary measure being taken by ecclesiastical 
authority. I believe I have this right. I have waived my 
claim to exact from each member of the clergy a declaration 
of loyalty, confiding as I did in the pledge given by your 
Eminence and on your guaranteeing the peaceful attitude of 
the clergy. 

I offer to your Eminence the expression of my sincere 
esteem and have the honor to be your devoted servant. 

(Signed) Baron von Bissing, 

Major General. 

His Eminence replied to the Governor General's remon- 
strances in his letter of November 27th. 

Government General of Belgium, Brussels, 
P. A. I. 9529. November 10th, 1915. 

To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of 
Malines. 
Your Eminence will not be surprised if I raise a violent 
protest against the sermon which the Rev. Cardyn preached 
at Brussels in St. Gudule on the occasion of the service for 



170 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

Belgian soldiers killed in the war. In the Flemish text 
especially, this sermon shows an abuse of the liberty granted 
to the ministers of worship. 

As your Eminence assisted at this service, I can dispense 
myself from giving precise details about the matter of this 
sermon; but I must nevertheless express my surprise that 
such language was used in your presence. I venture to 
hope that the preacher Cardyn will have to give an account 
of his action to the ecclesiastical authorities and that a 
guarantee will be given me that such an abuse will not be 
repeated. 

I present to your Eminence the expression of my sincere 
esteem and have the honor to be your devoted servant. 

(Signed) Baron von Bissing, 

Major General. 

Archbishop' s House, Malines, 

November 12th, 1915. 
To His Excellency Baron von Bissing, Governor General 
of Belgium. 
Sir — Your Excellency's dispatch, dated November 10th, 
No. 9529, was delivered to me yesterday and I hasten to 
send you an acknowledgment of it. 

It is no longer possible for me to send for the Abbe 
Cardyn at the Archbishopfs House before I leave for 
Rome,* but I will ask my administrator to act as an inter- 
preter of my wishes in this regard, and on my return to 
Belgium I shall deem it my duty to give him detailed in- 
structions. 

Accept, your Excellency, the expression of my sincere 
esteem. 

(Signed) 1 D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

* Note — The Cardinal meant to go a few days later to Rome whither 
he had just been called by His Holiness, Pope Benedict XV. But when 
he discovered that the passport given him by the German authorities said 
nothing about his return, he put off his journey and before answering the 
call of the Holy Father he desired to secure guaranties that would allow 
him to return to Belgium with as much ease as he had been allowed to leave 
it. He did not start for Rome till January 12, 191 6. 



SERMONS BY THE CLERGY 171 

Archbishop' s House, Malines, 

November 27th, 191 5. 
To His Excellency Baron von Bissing, Governor General, 
Brussels. 

Sir — I have just this moment received your Excellency's 
dispatch, No. 9742, dated November 24th, and I hasten to 
answer it.* 

I have made inquiries about the sermon preached at the 
Lourdes Grotto at Jette St. Pierre on October 14th. The 
preacher inveighed against the frivolous spirit which draws 
to the cinema and worldly pleasures young men whose right 
place was elsewhere, viz., at the service of their country. 
He did, in fact, at this part of his sermon give some statis- 
tics. He said that at the time of the enrollment of volun- 
teers in our army 12 per cent of the young men of Brussels 
had enlisted, while there were 80 per cent who came from 
the country. The very precision of the figures shows that 
the orator had in view the enrollment of young men before 
the German occupation, for on what source would he have 
relied for giving figures of recruiting at the present time? 

I will look into the case of the Rev. Mr. Swalus, al- 
though the accusation brought against him by your Excel- 
lency is exceedingly vague; also the case of the Rev. Wit- 
temberg. 

But I am now in a position to assert that the Vicaire 
Mussche did not preach in the church in the Chaussee de 
Waterloo on October 24th and that there is no such priest 
as Carpentier attached to that church. 

Accept, dear Governor General, the assurance of my sin- 
cere esteem. 

(Signed)' D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 



•Note — This dispatch has not been found. As can be gathered from 
the Cardinal's letter of December 3rd, the Governor General came back 
on the complaints which he had already stated in his dispatches of Novem- 
ber 6th and 10th and brought up fresh accusations against the Reverends 
Swalus, Carpentier, Mussche and Wittemberg. 



172 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

Archbishop' s House, M alines, 

December i,rd, 19 15. 
To His Excellency Baron von Bissing, Governor General, 
Brussels. 

Sir — I am now in a position to complete the information 
I had the honor of addressing your Excellency on November 
27th in answer to your letter, No. 9742, dated November 
24th. 

In that letter your Excellency mentioned the sermons 
preached on October 14th by the Rev. Swalus at Laeken 
(Jette St. Pierre), and by the Rev. Cardyn at Ste. Gudule 
on November 8th. You there censured the sermons 
preached October 31st by the Cure Swalus at Laeken and 
October 24th by the Revs. Carpentier and Mussche in the 
Church of Ste. Alice at Schaerbeek. 

The explanations I had the honor to give your Excel- 
lency in my letter of November 27th regarding the sermon 
of October 24th ought to have satisfied your Excellency; 
this same letter put the case of the Revs. Carpentier and 
Mussche out of question, as they did not preach on October 
24th. 

There remain the cases of the Rev. Swalus (October 
31st), the Rev. Cardyn (November 8th) and the Rev. Wit- 
temberg. 

The Cure Swalus, whom I questioned yesterday at 
Brussels, tells me that he has been summoned several times 
to the Kommandantur during the last few days and that 
he has in vain demanded to be brought face to face with 
his accusers. He wished the grievances articled against him 
to be drawn up in detail, in order that he might give a 
straightforward explanation. He was answered that his 
accusers are no longer here. In reality, it was not he, but 
Pere Melet who preached on October 31st in the Church of 
the Chaussee de Waterloo. As a matter of fact, the Rev. 
Father's sermon had for its sole subject a theme which was 
as far removed as it could be from our earthly conflicts, viz., 
"The Beatific Vision." Not one word passed the lips of 
the Rev. Father which could give offense to the most sus- 
ceptible of his hearers. As a guarantee of this statement 



SERMONS BY THE CLERGY 173 

I have several witnesses altogether worthy of belief, who 
were present at the sermon and were capable of thoroughly 
understanding it. 

It is less easy to answer the scruples of your Excel- 
lency about the preaching of the Revs. Cardyn and Wittem- 
berg, because neither your dispatch of the 6th nor that of 
the 24th brings forward any definite complaint. 

The dispatch of November 4th says that some Catholics, 
offended in their religious sentiments by a sermon of the 
Vicaire Wittemberg at Ste. Alice, left the church before the 
end of the sermon. I had an opportunity of seeing Mr. 
Wittemberg but was unable to get at the bottom of the mat- 
ter for want of anything definite which the German au- 
thorities think they can bring against him. If these Cath- 
olics hesitate, which I can understand, to tell a lay power 
what it was that troubled their conscience, would they be 
unwilling to come forward and confide it to their bishop ? 

They know that they have no reprisals to fear on our 
part and that we have no interest in abusing their confi- 
dence. 

As regards the sermon of November 8th at Ste. Gudule, 
I believe I can put my finger on what gave your Excellency 
cause for anxiety. A German of high standing said to a 
trustworthy person, who repeated it to me, that the Abbe 
Cardyn had compared Germany to a prostitute. As a mat- 
ter of fact, this person was led into error by a spy who 
heard the word "prostitution," and applied it in a distorted 
sense. I heard the preacher myself. He denounced a few 
wretched wights who, instead of joining in the general 
mourning of the country, unmindful of their brothers, father 
or husband fighting for them, hand themselves over shame- 
fully to the enemy. 

I do not wish to end this letter without thanking your 
Excellency for being so good as to accede to my desire, ex- 
pressed at sundry times, of seeing myself intrusted with 
the control of priests suspected of having lacked in respect 
for the dignity of their ministry. 



174 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

Accept, dear Governor General, the expression of my 
sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 

December nth, 1915. 
To His Excellency Baron von Bissing, Governor General, 
Brussels. 

Sir — I do not know whether your Excellency thinks your 
letter No. 10182 still requires an answer from me.* 

As far as I am concerned, I have only one word to add, 
by way of conclusion, to my preceding letters. 

Your Excellency has written me that I have passed over 
in silence the Abbe Cardyn's sermon at Ste. Gudule. If your 
Excellency will take the trouble to reread my last letter, you 
will discover your error. The only objection which the Ger- 
man authorities have, to my knowledge, brought forward 
against this sermon is grounded on an equivocation which I 
have laid bare. 

I have summoned the priests whose names were men- 
tioned in your Excellency's letter; I have listened to their 
versions, and I have let them know what my views were, 
and consequently what their own views must be about their 
ministry. I pledge myself, therefore, for the correctness 
of their behavior: "Burgschaft fur korrektes Verhalten der 
Geistlichkeit" (Surely guarantee for the behavior of the 
clergy). 

Your Excellency can rest assured that the clergy is not 
inciting the people to sedition. One year's experience must 
have convinced you that not one of the ugly prophecies put 
forward so often by those round you has been realized. 
Since the time our provinces have been occupied is there a 
single Belgian who has played a low trick on a German 
soldier? 

Belgian folk are steadfast, but self-respecting in their 
patriotism, and the Belgian clergy is no stranger to this calm 
and noble attitude. 

* This letter has not been found. 



SERMONS BY THE CLERGY 175 

Accept, dear Governor General, the expression of my 
sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

Government General of Belgium, Brussels, 
P. A. I. No. 10637. December i$th, 1915. 

To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of 
Malines. 

Your Eminence's esteemed letter of December 3rd 
crossed that which I sent you the following day. I have 
duly received your correspondence of the nth. I have no 
intention to enter into detailed discussions of the sermons 
censured, though, e. g., in the summing up of Cardyn's case 
I cannot altogether see eye to eye with your Eminence. I 
insist above all on putting an end to all future abuses of 
liberty of worship. 

It was a pleasure to me to hear that your Eminence sent 
instructions in this sense to certain ecclesiastics and that you 
pledge your word anew for the behavior of all the clergy. 
I rejoice thereat and hope that in this way priests will for 
the future confine themselves within the bounds of their 
religious mission, without my having to take steps, which, 
in the interest of the Church, I would rather avoid. 

At the same time, I deem it my duty to make some 
observations on some of the propositions which have es- 
caped your Eminence. I cannot share your way of think- 
ing when you assert that the behavior adopted hitherto by 
the clergy during the occupation is not fraught with any 
danger. If during the year that has elapsed we have had 
no trouble to deplore, that does not mean that I must not be 
very wary about the future. 

I am answerable for the tranquillity of the country and 
to uphold it I have at my disposal measures adapted to 
meet all emergencies. But I count especially on preventive 
measures. I wish to avoid new trials for the population, 
which might be caused by the passion or foolishness 
of a few. As matters stand, provocative sermons 
are having an evil influence, for they are awakening among 



176 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

their hearers consequences outside the churches, especially 
in times of military and political stress, as was the case 
about the time of last Michaelmas. This opinion, which 
I have held from the beginning of my entry into office, is 
shared by a number of witnesses to whom your Eminence 
can hardly take exception. The excerpts from a Brussels 
newspaper, the "Vingtieme Siecle," which I inclose with my 
letter show clearly that even prudent addresses by preachers 
can be understood by the faithful as incitements to effective 
revolt. Such manifestoes, were they tolerated, would by 
the very nature of things end by creating little by little 
a permanent danger. 

From another point of view, also, these sermons which 
I cannot tolerate exercise a more inciting influence than 
your Eminence appears to think. 

The people believe that these verbal excesses issuing 
from the eminence of the pulpit have the sanction of eccle- 
siastical authority behind them. 

Thus Catholics who have in my offices expressed their 
disapproval of the theme of several sermons have said 
explicitly that they did not expect that, after your Eminence's 
pastoral letter, there would be any intervention on the part 
of ecclesiastical authorities. 

In the report quoted from the "Vingtieme Siecle" the 
same thought comes to the surface. The pastoral letter of 
last Christmas appears to embody a program and to act as 
an encouragement to the faint-hearted. I venture to think 
that this straightforward language has cleared up the situa- 
tion, and I have a right to hope that the country which I 
have administered since the time of the war and on which 
I have not ceased to bestow my utmost care will enjoy tran- 
quillity for its own greater advantage. 

Accept, your Eminence, the wishes of my sincere esteem. 

(Signed) Baron von Bissing, 

Lieutenant General. 

The following extracts of a correspondence from Brus- 
sels in the "Vingtieme Siecle" of December 2d, 19 15, were 
inclosed with the preceding letter : 



SERMONS BY THE CLERGY 177 

How the Belgian people gave expression to their re- 
ligious feelings. 

IMPRESSIVE DEMONSTRATIONS IN THE CHURCHES 

For the house of God is the only place where one is still 
allowed to publicly proclaim the ardor of one's feelings as 
a citizen, where the national colors float freely, exposed to 
every eye, where resound, sustained by the peals of the 
organ, the hymns dear to our patriotic hearts, where from 
the pulpit words — noble and manly — are heard, by which 
our energies are fed and nourished. 

The Belgian clergy, regular and secular, is equal to its 
task in these days of public mourning. The example given 
to them by the head of the episcopate and the program he 
has drawn up for them in the famous pastoral letter have 
stimulated the zeal of the most faint-hearted. 

THE PATRIOTIC APOSTOLATE OF PREACHERS 

. . . There are times . . . when the public, spell- 
bound and electrified by the proud words emanating 
from the pulpit, feels an irresistible desire to give full vent 
to the surging emotions by which they are agitated. They 
forget the majesty of the place and abandon themselves to 
the joy of breaking forth into raptures of delight. 

On the evening of All Souls' Day in a Brussels church, 
where hundreds of spectators were squatting even on the 
steps of the altar, the advertised preacher, who wore the 
gown of the disciples of St. Dominic, gave out to his audi- 
ence, with a bluntness excusable under the circumstances, 
that they must restrain themselves from any demonstra- 
tion out of place in such a spot. . . . The orator had taken 
as a theme for his sermon, "Patriotism." He spoke of the 
war, the country, its glories past, present and future, with an 
enthusiasm and an earnestness calculated to send a thrill 
through every one. His language was quivering, clear and 
inflamed. One felt that he was inspired with an ardent 

Note — The passages printed in italic type were underlined by von 
Biasing. 



178 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

conviction which he was desirous of sharing with others. 
His eloquence set forth in bold relief the heroic deeds he 
called to mind, as well as memories from the past, put to- 
gether in such a way as to make a picture which epitomized 
these events in a striking manner. Moreover, his language 
was so bold that his audience, panting for breath, was really 
intoxicated by hearing him express with a freedom scorn- 
ful of possible reprisals, ideas and sentiments wlilgh. har- 
monized so well with theirs. 

Such harangues have a salutary effect on the crowd. We 
are comforted, braced up, electrified. If after that the 
national anthem, "Vers 1'Avenir," resounds stentoriously 
through the vaulting, sung with full voices, then immediately 
patriotism raises its head, our lips quiver. . . . It is at times 
like these that we do realize how dear our country is to us, 
and what sacrifices we are prepared to make to save her. 

The Cardinal, looking upon the discussion as closed, left 
von Bissing's last letter unanswered; nevertheless in the 
appeal which he addressed to him before going to Rome in 
favor of political prisoners, he corrected the erroneous inter- 
pretation which the Governor General had made of cer- 
tain passages in the article in the "Vingtieme Siecle." 



CHAPTER XX 

GUARDING OF THE TELEPHONE LINE AT VILVORDE 

An accident had happened in the district of Vilvorde 
to the telephone wires. What was the cause nobody knew. 
No matter, the town was made responsible and by way of 
punishment the magnates of Vilvorde were ordered by the 
German Commandant to secure the guarding of the line. 
Several priests and religious having been summoned to act 
as sentries, the Cardinal sent von Bissing a letter of pro- 
test: 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 

December 18th, 1915. 
To His Excellency Baron von Bissing, Governor General, 
Brussels. 

Sir — The Kreischef has passed the order to the com- 
mercial authorities of Vilvorde to have the telephone lines 
guarded by the magnates of the commune. 

In his proclamation of December nth, 1915, the im- 
perial representative himself says explicitly: "It is doubtful 
whether the line broke down." The immediate consequence 
is that no "misdeed" has been proved, and that therefore 
there is no case for repression. 

Nevertheless the claim is made to impose on the paro- 
chial clergy of Vilvorde, on the director and professors, on 
the priests of the College of Notre Dame, on the Christian 
brothers, the guarding for twelve consecutive hours of a 
telephone line. 

The clergy has declared their inability to take up this 
task and I have approved their decision. 

I feel sure, sir, that it will be enough to draw your kind 
attention to this incident to have an end put to this persecu- 
tion and in anticipation I express my gratitude to your Ex- 

179 



180 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

cellency, and at the same time beg you to accept the expres- 
sion of my sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

The Governor General replied, throwing the responsi- 
bility of summoning priests and clerics on the communal 
authorities: . 

t Government General of Belgium, Brussels, 

December lid, 1915. 
To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of 
Malines. 
I have the honor to inform your Eminence in reply to 
your letter of the 1 8th inst. that the appointment of priests 
for guarding the telephone line of Vilvorde is not due to 
my administration but to the Belgian communal authorities. 
I share your Eminence's view entirely that priests should 
not be constrained for this service. I have given orders 
to my subordinates to see to it that for the future the 
Belgian communal authorities do not commit such excesses 
in exercising their power. 

I offer to your Eminence the expression of my sincere 
esteem and have the honor to be your devoted servant, 
(Signed) Baron von Bissing, 

Lieutenant General. 

The truth of the matter is this : 

A vicar of the town, the superior of the Christian broth- 
ers, and several reverend professors of the college had been 
summoned by the communal authorities for sentry duty dur- 
ing the night. At this news the Dean Van Reeth went at 
once to the town hall. In the absence of the burgomaster 
he was received 1}y an official, who told him that the orders 
had been given by the Germans. With a view of finding 
out for himself the exact meaning of these orders, the dean 
went to see the Commandant; the latter declared that he 
had indeed given orders that the telephone wires should be 
guarded by the magnates of the town, but that he had not 
specified any particular class of persons. 



TELEPHONE LINE AT VILVORDE 181 

The dean hastened to write to the burgomaster the fol- 
lowing letter : 

Sir — I forbid all priests and religious of my district to 
act as sentries to guard the telephone line, and I assume 
myself the responsibility for this refusal . . . 

In spite of the entreaties addressed to him, the dean re- 
fused to withdraw his prohibition. The communal authori- 
ties summoned civilians to take the place of the recalcitrant 
priests and the incident was closed. 



CHAPTER XXI 

BEFORE LEAVING FOR ROME THE CARDINAL AGAIN RECOM- 
MENDS TO VON BISSING THE MORAL AND RELIGIOUS 
INTERESTS OF THE POLITICAL PRISONERS 

Archbishop' s House, M alines, 

January nth, 191 6. 
To His Excellency Baron von Bissing, Governor General, 
Brussels. 

Sir — At the time of leaving Belgium,* for a few days, 
I take the liberty of calling your attention once again to 
the religious and moral interests which are suffering a severe 
check in the prisons and rooms of the Kommandantur. 

Nearly all those detained, and their number has always 
been increasing, are put into solitary confinement from the 
time of their arrest and remain there till their trial. The 
German authorities have made it a rule to forbid prisoners 
in solitary confinement to assist at religious services. The 
upshot of this is that these victims of the great misfortune 
which Belgium is undergoing, though they have for the most 
part done nothing with which their conscience reproaches 
them, are, in fact, robbed of all comfort for their souls and 
exposed to the dangers of moral depression. 

This kind of life, sir, is unbearable, and I shall deem it 
my duty to notify it to my Supreme Chief, the Sovereign 
Pontiff. 

The German authorities have no valid grounds for up- 
holding such a regime. 

In fact, the arrangements of the prison are such that 
each prisoner is in a different pew, whence he can neither 
see his neighbor nor communicate with him. The war- 

* Note — The Cardinal left Belgium for Rome on January 12 and re- 
turned February 27. 

182 



RELIGIOUS INTERESTS OF PRISONERS 183 

den, stationed at the center of the semicircle, can see all 
the pews. 

Besides this, the priest who says the mass and who 
preaches is a German. Your Excellency will call to mind 
that, having in view the keen patriotic feelings of the pris- 
oners, I had asked that a Belgian priest might administer 
to the wants of religion, in regard to Belgian prisoners, 
under the guardianship of the German administration, and 
that this request has been shelved. The German chaplain 
alone therefore is able to influence the prisoners by word 
or deed. For the last time, I beg your Excellency to have 
pity on so many souls ; there are more than 400 prisoners at 
this moment untried at Brussels, suffering from the stunting 
of their moral and religious instincts. 

I beg of you more earnestly than ever no longer to 
refuse prisoners and condemned men facilities for confess- 
ing to a priest, to whom it is humanly possible to open 
their minds with full confidence. They have gone so far 
as to refuse a Belgian priest to men sentenced to death. 
Your Excellency, who has a pious soul, will understand 
that these facts rouse the indignation of a believing people 
and are for us pastors a real torture. Surely at the mo- 
ment of death has not the condemned man wishes and de- 
sires to express which can only be told to one in whom he 
has full confidence ? 

I have left unanswered till now the letter No. 10637 
which your Excellency addressed me dated December 15, 
191 5, because I had looked upon this letter as a conclusion 
to a correspondence, already long-drawn-out, about the min- 
istry and preaching of our clergy. 

But your Excellency has inclosed with this letter an ex- 
tract from the "Vingtieme Siecle," which might give room 
for a misunderstanding. Your Excellency underlines in a 
correspondence alleged to have been sent from Brussels to 
Havre a passage where it is said: "The example which has 
been given to the Belgian clergy by the head of the episco- 
pate and the program he has drawn up for them in his fa- 
mous pastoral letter, have fired the zeal of the most faint- 
hearted." I conjecture that the intention of your Excel- 



1 84 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

lency in calling my attention to these two lines is to insinuate 
that if unguarded words be spoken in church the author of 
the pastoral letter of November, 19 14, would be respon- 
sible. 

In the early days of January, 19 15, I had the honor of 
writing to your Excellency that my letter would keep up 
the courage of our people and would prevent the seditious 
uproar which the German authorities, in their alarm, ex- 
pected. Sure as I was of my ground, I refused to with- 
draw my letter and gave orders to the clergy to read it. 
A whole year's experience must have proved to the most 
pessimistic minds that my forecasts were correct and that 
therefore we ought to be of one mind in wishing to harmon- 
ize the regulations and disciplinary measures of the occupy- 
ing power with the respect due to the patriotism and the 
national dignity of the Belgian people. In substance, this 
is what the article in the "Vingtieme Siecle" means and in 
that sense I can only agree with it. 

Kindly accept, sir, the assurance of my sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 



CHAPTER XXII 

RENEWED COMPLAINTS OF BARON VON BISSING CONCERNING 
THE PREACHING OF THE CLERGY 

Government General of Belgium, Brussels, 
P. A. I. 2031. February 2<)th, 1916. 

To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of 
Malines. 

I write to inform your Eminence that on the 13th of 
February inst. the Vicar Wittemberg, in the course of a ser- 
mon preached in the Church of St. Alice, expressed himself 
as follows: "The German people is a lying people. Till 
now the Pope has only heard the German version, now he 
hears the Belgian version. The Cardinal of Malines was 
received by the Pope at the same time as another Belgian 
priest; he will be back in a few days with very good news 
for the Belgians. The Germans will be made responsible 
for all that has taken place in Belgium; the Belgians will 
get a slice of Germany." 

The Vicar Wittemberg has already given cause for 
complaint. Your Eminence, in your letter of December 3rd, 
19 1 5, had answered that you had not been able to carry 
through the investigation you had begun in his regard. 

I now beg your Eminence to tell me how you will 
call this priest to account for his misbehavior, and what 
steps you are thinking of taking to prevent preachers in the 
future from making in the pulpit statements which, first, 
are slanders of the German nation and therefore of the 
army of occupation; second, are of a nature to disturb and 
rouse the Belgian people to revolt, and, third, are quite for- 
eign to the preacher's office. 

Accept, your Eminence, the wishes of my sincere esteem. 

(Signed) Baron von Bissing, 

Lieutenant General. 
185 



1 86 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 

March 6, 191 6. 
To His Excellency Baron von Bissing, Governor General, 
Brussels. 

Sir — Having returned a few days ago to Belgium, I 
deem it a duty to thank your Excellency with all sincerity 
for the facilities you granted me for accomplishing my 
journey to Rome. I could only congratulate myself, both in 
going and coming back, on the courteous attentions which 
were shown me throughout my journey and at the frontier. 

Your Excellency's dispatch No. 2031, February 29, 
reminds me that on the date, December 3rd, I said I had not 
been able to carry through an investigation which had then 
been requested of me about the sermons of the Rev. Wit- 
temberg, vicar of St. Alice. As a matter of fact I did not 
know up to now and I still do not know what are the exact 
grievances about which I ought to institute an investiga- 
tion. But this time your Excellency calls my attention to a 
sermon preached by the same Mr. Wittemberg on February 
13th, and you give details of the theme for which the preach- 
er is held blameworthy. I forthwith summoned the vicar to 
the archbishop's house and this is in substance the explana- 
tion he has given me: "The gist of my sermon," said he, 
"was to comment on the parable of the grain of mustard 
seed and the leaven. I expatiated on the wondrous growth 
of the church from its very beginning and the transforma- 
tion effected in the world by the preaching of the gospel. 
In my peroration, I spoke of the prestige of the papacy at 
the present time. All eyes are turned on Benedict XV. 
All nations vie with one another for his sympathy. Till now 
Belgium had had no opportunity to make the voice of her 
bishops heard, but our archbishop and another member of 
the Belgian hierarchy are in Rome. We must all have con- 
fidence in them. It is, of course, difficult for the Holy 
Father to see the truth in the midst of different and often 
opposite versions, which come to him from every side. But 
let us be of good hope; already there is a rumor afloat 
that his Holiness has told the bishop of Namur that if he 
were one day invited to the peace negotiations, he would 



COMPLAINTS OF PREACHING 187 

put down as a first condition the liberation of Belgium." 

The vicar protests that he has not accused the German 
nation of lying and that he has said nothing to suggest the 
idea of territorial conquest. 

There have probably been two misunderstandings. The 
first passage gave rise to the first, and the second passage 
to the second. 

The vicar offered to give me, if I wanted, the notes 
which he made use of in preaching. I deemed it superfluous 
to ask him for them, but if your Excellency desires supple- 
mentary explanations, I shall think it my duty to accept the 
offer which has been made to me. 

Accept, dear Governor General, the expression of my 
sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

Government General of Belgium, Brussels, 
P. A. J. 2339. March 9 , 191 5. 

To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of Malines. 

As a sequel to my letter P. A. I. 2031, of February 29, 
I bring this to your Eminence's notice that the Vicar Wit- 
temberg, of the Church of St. Alice, in Brussels, has been 
guilty of a new misdemeanor by making in his sermon of 
February 27th statements of a political nature. Consequent- 
ly I beg your Eminence to let me know at once whether I 
may rest quite assured that the Vicar Wittemberg will be 
compelled by ecclesiastical authority to confine himself with- 
in the limits of his ministerial office. 

I offer to your Eminence the expression of my sincere 
esteem. 

(Signed) Baron von Bissing, 

Lieutenant General. 

This letter remained for the time being unanswered. 

The controversy about patriotic acts was not, however, 
ended. It will again be the subject of long discussions 
between the Cardinal, the Governor General and the head 
of his political department, Baron von der Lancken. 



CHAPTER XXIII 

THE PASTORAL LETTER, "ON MY RETURN FROM ROME" 

On October 15th, 19 15, the Cardinal had written a pas- 
toral entitled, "For the Feast of All Saints and All Souls' 
Day." It had been read in all the churches in three sec- 
tions on Sunday, October 31st, on All Saints' Day and on 
Sunday, November 6th. In answer to the dispatch of four 
copies the Governor General sent the following acknowledg- 
ment to his Eminence : 

Britssels, November 11, 1 9 1 5. 

I have the honor to thank your Eminence for sending 
me four copies of your pastoral of October 15th. Although 
I do not share your views on all points, yet I note with 
pleasure that this new manifesto of your Eminence is af 
great improvement on those which have preceded it. 

(Signed) Baron von Bissing. 

As you see, von Bissing, pleased with the letter, did not 
even blame the Cardinal for having it printed without sub- 
mitting it to the censor. Did he perchance hope that he 
had tamed his patriotism and had succeeded in making him 
change his attitude toward the power in occupation? If so, 
his illusion must have been short-lived; for the dispute was 
about to be reopened as closely contested as ever, about a 
new pastoral dated March 7th, 19 16, and beginning, "On 
my return from Rome." 

During the whole of his journey through Switzerland 
and Italy, the Cardinal had received enthusiastic ovations, 
which were meant both for the courageous pastor and the 
heroic country he represented. The German press had 
taken umbrage at these manifestations of warm sympathy; 

188 



"ON MY RETURN FROM ROME" 189 

it had accused the Cardinal of having lent himself to politi- 
cal demonstrations and it had urged the power of occupa- 
tion to proceed against him with severity immediately on 
his return. 

Undaunted by threats, the Cardinal communicated to 
his flock the comforting impressions he had gleaned during 
his journey. 

On Sunday, March 12, the clergy read in all the churches 
of the diocese the letter, "On Our Return from Rome." 
The Cardinal, after expressing the joy he felt at finding 
himself again in the midst of the faithful of his diocese, 
said that his journey had been blessed in a special manner 
and that he came back happy, most happy. He had been 
received with fatherly kindness by the Pope, who told him 
that the cause of Belgium was his cause; he had satisfied 
himself that everywhere the moral triumph of Belgium had 
been definitely won, and lastly the assurances, which several 
disinterested and attentive observers of the general situation 
had given him, had fixed in his heart, more deep-rooted than 
ever, this conviction of final victory. 

"Keep an absolute faith in Providence," he added; "are 
we not all of us always in the hands of the Almighty, more 
so, indeed, than the lilies of the fields or the birds of the 
air which flutter about the trees? . . . Make your plans, 
set up your batteries, order your movements, it remains 
for man to propose and God to dispose. . . . Imagine a 
belligerent nation sure of its army corps, its ammunitions, its 
command, on the point of gaining a triumph; should God 
allow the germs of an epidemic to break out in their ranks, 
there and then are ruined the expectations of the most op- 
timistic. 

"Therefore, above all, have confidence in God . . ." 

The letter ended with an earnest appeal for prayer and 
sacrifice. 

The Governor General was not long in showing his 
anger. The very next morning, before even writing to his 
Eminence, he put M. Charles Dessain, Burgomaster of 
Malines and printer to the archbishop, under arrest, as well 
as four printers engaged at his works. The Cardinal, hav- 



190 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

ing learned the news at the Abbey of Mont-Cesar, where he 
had retired to make a retreat, hastened to address the fol- 
lowing letter to von Bissing: 



Abbaye du Mont-Cesar, Louvain, 

March 15, 19 16. 
To His Excellency Baron von Bissing, Governor General, 
Brussels. 

Sir — The news has reached me here that M. Charles 
Dessain, Burgomaster of the town of Malines, and four 
workmen printers of his works, have been placed under 
arrest, the former for having had printed, the latter for 
printing, my pastoral dated March 7. 

I presume that the intention of those who have arrested 
them is merely to have them examined. 

But if your Excellency is of opinion that the arrest 
is the forerunner of a trial, perhaps of a condemnation, I 
would earnestly beg of you to consider that justice demands 
that the consequences of an act must be made to fall upon 
him who bears the responsibility. The printing of the pas- 
toral is my act, rather than that of the printer and his 
workmen. 

If objection were made to your Excellency, or your Ex- 
cellency yourself were to make it, that you are not qualified 
to judge and proceed against a bishop and a prince of the 
Church exercising his pastoral office, I would take the lib- 
erty to call to your notice that in the present instance it is 
neither a bishop nor a member of the Sacred College against 
whom you would proceed, but a private individual, who, of 
his own accord, undertakes to be the spokesman of upright 
and faithful fathers of families, whom, through his loyalty 
and affection for them, he of his own responsibility takes 
under his shelter. 

Accept, dear Governor General, the expression of my 
sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 



"ON MY RETURN FROM ROME" 191 

Von Bissing refused to comply with the demands of 
the Cardinal. 

Government General of Belgium, Brussels, 

March 18, 19 16. 
To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of 
Malines. 

I beg to inform your Eminence, in reply to your letter 
of the 15 th inst., that it is solely on the ground of my 
decree on the censorship of printed matters that the Printer 
Dessain and his workmen have been prosecuted. Your 
Eminence may feel yourself morally responsible for the mis- 
demeanor committed, which thus exposes fathers of families 
to prosecution at law; but that can have no influence on the 
legal procedure now going on. The result of this procedure 
is beyond my province. 

Moreover, I cannot at all understand how your Emi- 
nence imagines that I can act toward you, as I would toward 
a private individual, without any regard for your ecclesias* 
tical dignity. 

I offer your Eminence the expression of my sincere 
esteem. 

(Signed) Baron von Bissing, 

Lieutenant General. 

M. Charles Dessain, Burgomaster of Malines, was con- 
demned and deported to Germany on the charge of printing 
the pastoral. 

Three days after the reading of the letter in the 
churches, von Bissing addressed to the Cardinal a long list 
of charges, which he took care to have published in the 
Belgian censored press. 

Governor General of Belgium, Brussels, 
P. A. I. 2606. March 15, 1916. 

To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of 
Malines. 
I bring the following facts to your Eminence's notice. 
He who is placed in the highest position to watch over 



i 9 2 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

and safeguard the interests of the Catholic Church has 
assured me on several occasions and in the most formal 
manner that at your return from Rome your Eminence 
would observe an attitude full of moderation. I could ex- 
pect then that your Eminence would abstain from manifes- 
toes which continue to upset the easily excited minds of 
the Belgian people. For this reason I refrained from dis- 
cussing with your Eminence the incidents connected with 
your journey and more particularly the collective letter of 
the Belgian bishops * and the political misuse which your 
Eminence made of the passport obtained by the Holy Father 
to allow you to go to Rome for purposes entirely ecclesias- 
tical. 

By your new pastoral your Eminence not only has not 
behaved conformably to the assurances given me by him 
who was best qualified to do so, but you have acted in such 
wise that relations between yourself and the power of occu- 
pation are again strained. Of course there can be no pos- 
sible doubt whatever that I will never hinder your Eminence 
from transmitting to the faithful communications which the 
Holy See may wish to make to them through you. But 
your Eminence in your pastoral does not stop here. You 
give vent to remarks which are purely political. I protest 
vigorously against this way of acting. 

The behavior of your Eminence is inexcusable, when in 
talking of the result of the war you raise hopes which are 
ill-grounded and obviously out of keeping with real facts. 
For instance, your Eminence, to strengthen your assertions, 
quotes vague statements coming from people who are quite 
outsiders in regard to events and whom it is impossible to 
look upon as good authorities. In another place, you try 
to make an impression by saying that the issue you desire 
might come about through the spreading of epidemic dis- 
eases. 

*Note — On November 24, 1915, the Belgian hierarchy addressed a col- 
lective letter to the episcopate of Germany and Austro-Hungary to protest 
against the calumnies launched against the Belgians by the German Govern- 
ment and to call for an impartial inquiry about the atrocities committed by 
German troops at the beginning of the war. This letter remained un- 
answered. 



"ON MY RETURN FROM ROME" 193 

By this arbitrary method of arguing, your Eminence 
can only provoke a mischievous excitement among an over- 
credulous people, which may drive it into an active or pas- 
sive resistance to the occupying power. 

I have to mark as particularly intolerable the allusion 
which your Eminence makes in your pastoral to an en- 
croachment on the religious liberties of the people in the oc- 
cupied territory. Your Eminence knows better than any 
one that this insinuation is perfectly unjustified. 

Under these circumstances, contrary to the spirit of 
forbearance which I have shown till now, I am determined 
to suppress without delay every kind of political propaganda 
spread under the cloak of liberty of worship and every act 
tending to foster sentiments of hostility toward the legiti- 
mate authority of the power in occupation, an authority 
recognized by international law. It is my duty to do so in 
conformity with my decrees and the fulfillment of my mis- 
sion. 

If, till now, I have notified to your Eminence the trans- 
gressions of which your priests have been guilty in order 
that they might be punished according to ecclesiastical dis- 
cipline, I am determined to dispense with this in the future. 
In fact, your Eminence yourself has set the example of 
insubordination. As a consequence of this, your influence 
is now without weight. I must, moreover, more and more, 
make your Eminence morally responsible for the regrettable 
acts into which a great number of priests allow themselves 
to be drawn and which bring severe penalties upon some 
of them. 

Your Eminence will again retort that I have misunder- 
stood certain passages of your pastoral and I have given 
them a sense never meant by you. All discussion about 
this must prove futile, and I have no intention to start a 
fresh one. On the contrary, I have firmly made up my 
mind for the future not to allow your Eminence, misusing 
your high position and the respect due to your cloth, to 
indulge in a political propaganda calculated to turn the 
heads of the mob, a delinquency which in the case of a 
simple citizen would result in penal consequences. I warn 



194 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

your Eminence, therefore, to abstain henceforth from any 
political kind of activity. 

I offer to your Eminence the expression of my sincere 
esteem. 

(Signed) Baron von Bissing, 

Lieutenant General. 

The Cardinal merely acknowledged von Bissing's letter, 
intending to answer it later in detail. A month afterward 
he told the Governor General that he had drawn up a docu- 
ment of justification. He offered to send it to him, with a 
request to communicate the same to the bishops of Germany 
and Austria-Hungary. 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 

April 26, 19 16. 
To His Excellency Baron von Bissing, Governor General, 
Brussels. 

Sir — When on the 20th of last March I acknowledged 
your letter of March 15, I told you that journeys necessi- 
tated by my pastoral duties prevented me from replying at 
once. 

Since then I have prepared an answer. 

In this document I deal with each of the grievances 
which your Excellency has drawn up and suddenly and pub- 
licly launched at me and at my pastoral office. 

The sending of the joint letter of the Belgian hierarchy 
to the German episcopate is the first grievance ; it is, how- 
ever, merely mentioned. 

According to your second complaint, I am supposed to 
have misused the passport which I obtained through your 
Excellency's kindness for my journey to Rome. 

The third grievance, the chief one, is that in my pas- 
toral of March 7 I have indulged in remarks of a purely 
political character. 

In proof of this third complaint, your accusation of 
March 15 bases itself on three different facts. 

"I have tried," you say, "in talking about the issue of 
the war, to raise hopes which were ill-grounded and out of 






"ON MY RETURN FROM ROME" 195 

keeping with real facts" ; to bolster up these hopes, "I have 
quoted vague statements emanating from irresponsible per- 
sons"; lastly I said that "the decision I hope for might be 
brought about by the spreading of epidemic diseases." 

Against each of these accusations I set down the facts 
as they really are. 

Then as the allegation talks very often about "politics" 
without defining this abstract word, I have thought that to 
clear the air of equivocations or to forestall them, it would 
be necessary to define the dispositions of canon law and con- 
stitutional law about the liberty of preaching. 

Lastly, your Excellency has shown that you especially 
took to heart an allusion which I made about an encroach- 
ment on the religious liberty of the people dwelling in oc- 
cupied territory. I have made it my duty to declare that 
I am ready to lay bare in detail my grievances under this 
head. Only I ask as a proviso that guarantees of im- 
munity from punishment be granted me for the persons 
whose names and testimony I may have to quote. 

My reply to the address on each of these points is there- 
fore drawn up. It is at your Excellency's disposal. I am 
sincerely desirous of sending it to you. 

But I cannot make up my mind to send it to you spon- 
taneously. In fact, I ask myself what useful purpose would 
be served were I to do so. 

Would it be to convince your Excellency? 

Why, you have warned me that all my explanations 
would be shelved; you have made up your mind that all 
discussion should be useless. 

Would it be to enlighten the Belgian people? 

In the first place I could not do so without exposing my 
printer to the risk of a year's imprisonment. 

Moreover, I have confidence in my countrymen, just as 
they have confidence in their archbishop and bishops. 

Your Excellency thinks the Belgians credulous ; how mis- 
taken you are ! Our little Belgian people is wonderful for 
its coolness and common sense. 

Accustomed to think for themselves, they place no re- 
liance on opinions which people try to impose on them with- 



196 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

out discussion. For twenty months they have not been 
spared either alarming news, grief of separations, anxiety 
for the morrow, or intimidating procedures ; yet is not your 
Excellency struck by the unshakable confidence which they 
hold in the future ? 

Would it be to justify myself that I ought to send my 
answer to your Excellency? 

But my conscience does not reproach me for anything 
in which I have gone beyond the boundary marked out for 
me by my episcopal prerogative. Moreover, in the carry- 
ing out of my pastoral office, I depend on the jurisdiction of 
the Holy See, and my last pastoral tells clearly enough what 
reception the sovereign pontiff was pleased to grant me. 

Nevertheless, I should like, sir, to be able to send you 
my pamphlet, because there is a fraction of the public to 
whose esteem and affection I am attached and with which 
you alone can put me in touch; I mean my brethren, the 
faithful, the clergy and the Catholic bishops of Germany 
and Austria-Hungary. 

If one may judge by the language of the press, Catholic 
and non-Catholic, of these two countries our brethren must 
know and judge very ill of us. They know not what we 
are. In every case, where we have been put on our trial 
since the war began, they have only heard witnesses for the 
prosecution. You have published broadcast among them 
your own accusations. They know nothing of the point of 
my offense, my pastoral. 

Could I only hope that as a loyal soldier and just 
judge you would consent to put before them my pastoral, 
your allegation and my justifying rejoinder, with what joy 
would I not send you, by return of post, this last document 
dealing with my case? 

Not only would I congratulate myself on knowing my 
honor was safeguarded, but I would above all see in this 
communication to my brethren, whom I believe to be in 
good faith, yet in error, a means of paving the way for the 
time when peace is proclaimed, for preparing a reconcilia- 
tion, in Catholic charity, of souls which suffer in feeling 
that they are so violently estranged from one another. 



"ON MY RETURN FROM ROME" 197 

Accept, dear Governor General, the expression of my 
sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

The Governor General von Bissing met the Cardinal's 
desire with a curt refusal. 

Government General of Belgium, Brussels, 
P. A. I. No. 4063. April 20, 19 16. 

To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of 
Malines. 

In your esteemed letter of the 26th inst., your Eminence 
asks whether I am inclined to accept and hand over to the 
German bishops a detailed document to justify your be- 
havior. The reasons which, after ripe consideration, have 
determined me to say in my letter of March 15th that I 
could not allow new discussions about this matter still hold 
good. I regret that I cannot accede to your Eminence's 
wish. I am all the more inclined to hold fast to my opinion 
because from the hints which your Eminence gives about the 
contents of your document of Justification I believe that fur- 
ther discussion would be useless. 

The public and particularly the German bishops have 
been able to form their own judgment from the writings 
which have reached them. The last pastoral of your Emi- 
nence was published in extenso in the press. If discussion 
on this matter were reopened, only trouble could come from 
it, most especially among the Belgian people. It is pre- 
cisely because I recognize that the great majority of the Bel- 
gian people behave correctly that I wish to avoid everything 
which might provoke a fresh agitation. Basing my judg- 
ment on the same grounds, I venture to think the best jus- 
tification for your Eminence is to let bygones be bygones and 
to take account of circumstances and needs arising from our 
occupation of the country. 

I offer to your Eminence the expression of my sincere 
esteem. The Governor General. 

(Signed) Baron von Bissing, 

Lieutenant General. 



198 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

The following is the justification which von Bissing 
refused to accept: 

Archbishop's House, M alines, 

April 24, 1 9 16. 
To His Excellency Baron von Bissing, Governor General, 
Brussels. 

Sir — A full month has elapsed since your Excellency 
thought fit to appeal to public opinion to bear witness that 
your behavior toward the Belgian people and myself has 
been beyond reproach, whereas mine has been blameworthy 
and seditious. 

The procedure is assuredly a strange one. Neverthe- 
less, I would not complain of it, if it had pleased your Ex- 
cellency to join to your accusation the text of the pastoral 
which you indicted. 

But, on the contrary, I have been accused and judged 
without a hearing. I have been condemned by a verdict 
which, it is declared, is irrevocable. 

I have been made a defenseless butt for the comments 
of hate, the slanders and the ribaldry of the German press. 
Your government has forced the Belgian press to publish 
your accusations. It has allowed the free circulation of car- 
toons which insulted me,* and had I, in self-defense, pub- 
lished two lines of protest, my printer would have paid the 
service rendered me with one year's imprisonment. 

In the letter which I had the honor to write to your 
Excellency under date March 20, I gave hopes of an early 
answer, which I intended to make to your letter No. 2606, 
dated March 15. But I preferred to put off my reply for 
two reasons. 

In the first place, time soothes one's mind and allows 
one to reflect. 

Secondly, it is well that your Excellency should have a 
fresh proof that you were mistaken when you believe the 
Belgians to be excitable and always threatening to disturb 
public order. Belgian patriotism is unconquerable and 

*Note — One of these cartoons depicted the Cardinal under the shape 
of a parrot on its perch. Von Bissing standing up on his side with up- 
lifted finger was telling him to hold his tongue. 



"ON MY RETURN FROM ROME" 199 

proud, but it is, and remains, dignified; it does not yield, 
but it retains its self-possession. 

Already for twenty months, notwithstanding the dark 
memories which float about our atmosphere, in spite of 
annoyances, regulations without stint, requisitions and 
searches, condemnations to line, imprisonment, deportation, 
death, which fall thick upon us like hail itself, this fair little 
people of Belgium keeps within bounds. It neither bows its 
head nor does it cast down its eyes before any one, and it 
has not committed a single revolutionary act. 

Its only crime is that it will not die. The only crime 
ascribable to us — public administration, magistrates, clergy, 
hierarchy — is that we persist in thinking and saying: "Bel- 
gian people in the indissoluble union of your two races — 
Walloon and Flemish — you shall not die, you cannot die." 

I have carefully read your accusation of March 15. I 
think I can sum up in a few words the charges against me 
which it contains. 

Your Excellency says you were deceived at the time of 
my coming back from Rome. You expected from me, you 
say, an attitude full of moderation. 

Incidentally, the letter of March 15 mentions the col- 
lective letter of the Belgian hierarchy to the German 
bishops. 

Then it finds fault with me for my having misused the 
passport which allowed me to carry out my journey to 
Rome. 

Lastly and above all, you find fault with me for having 
indulged in my last pastoral in "remarks of a purely political 
nature." 

Your Excellency expected then from me, as you say, 
"an attitude of moderation" at the time of my return to 
Belgium. 

You wish, no doubt, to give me thus to understand that 
on your side you intended to act toward me with peculiar 
kindness. 

To tell the truth, I have not been aware of it. When 
on Tuesday, February 29, at 6 a. m. I was entering Brus- 
sels I went at once to St. Louis's Institute. I there said 



aoo CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

mass and peacefully spent some hours of the morning. 
Meanwhile five spies kept watch on the institute, and when 
I proceeded to return to my cathedral at Malines at 1 1, two 
policemen in plain clothes, placing themselves at my side, 
escorted me to within a few yards of my archiepiscopal pal- 
ace. Indeed, they were so very pressing in their attentions 
that they could have overheard a private conversation had 
I not warned my friend to lower his voice. 

And your Excellency will not have forgotten that on 
March 6, a few days after my return and therefore before 
the publication of my pastoral, which was not read in the 
churches until the 12th of that month, the newspapers in 
the service of the German Government announced to the 
country nine fresh condemnations to death, six of which 
were followed by instant executions at Mons, for acts 
which were branded as political crimes. These condemned 
men were denied the consolation of making their last con- 
fession and final confidences to a Belgian priest. 

Your Excellency knew of the collective letter of the 
Belgian episcopate to the bishops of Germany at the moment 
when you were kind enough to grant me a passport for 
Rome. Besides, I have still to learn that a brotherly ex- 
change of letters between members of the Catholic epis- 
copacy falls under the provisions of the penal code, or is 
forbidden by international law. On the other hand, it har- 
monizes entirely with the spirit and traditions of the 
Church. 

I am well aware that toward the end of my stay in 
Rome the German press exerted itself to bring about the 
withdrawal of my passport and tried to turn to my disad- 
vantage the collective letter of the Belgian episcopate to the 
bishops of Germany and my interview with M. Briand. 

But the collective letter which had not hindered my de- 
parture from Belgium could not consistently hinder my re- 
turn. As to my interview with M. Briand, no one had any 
inkling of what took place at it, and could not therefore be 
justified in claiming that it served political ends. 

The truth is that during the whole of my journey I prac- 
ticed a reserve to an extent such as many thought excessive. 



"ON MY RETURN FROM ROME" 201 

I remember hearing a diplomat exclaim, "Can it be then that 
this poor Cardinal Mercier even during his stay here in Italy- 
is still a prisoner of the Germans?" I granted no interview, 
delivered no speech, did not depart a single mile from my 
itinerary. I was too anxious to furnish no pretext for a 
fresh incident such as might be put forward as a plea to bar 
my return. I foresaw the danger and was forearmed. 

The German press, nevertheless, has discovered, so it 
seems, a political discourse which I am believed to have de- 
livered at Florence, "eine politische Rede in einer Nonnen- 
schule." The fact is that I paid a visit to the Sisters of 
Providence at Badia di Ropoli, in the suburbs of Florence; 
they conduct a boarding school for young girls. When I 
entered the playroom, the "Brabanconne" was played, one 
of the girls read me an address which I answered with a 
sympathetic reference to our absent country, but without ut- 
tering a word that could wound any one. Nothing more. 
There, as elsewhere, I preserved the reserve which my dig- 
nity and my own interest demanded. 

The third complaint in your allegation of March 15, the 
chief one and the one most enlarged upon, is also the most 
vague and intangible. 

I am accused of "indulging in purely political criticisms," 
of "having given an example of insubordination," of "hav- 
ing pursued an unbridled political propaganda," but no care 
is taken to define the meaning of the abstract term "politi- 
cal." 

The specimens they bring forward of such propaganda 
enable one nevertheless to conjecture the sense of the accu- 
sation. 

It seems that I have acted politically when "in contem- 
plating the result of the war I have sought to raise un- 
founded hopes contrary to the stern reality of facts"; when 
in order to find ground for these hopes "I have quoted in- 
accurate statements emanating from incompetent persons" ; 
finally when I said that "the decision I looked for might be 
brought about by the spread of epidemic diseases." 

But what evil is there, pray, in encouraging a suffering 
people? Should I better second the policy of the occupying 



202 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

power if I drove the Belgians into a state of discourage- 
ment and despair? 

Deep in my breast I confidently look for the success of 
our cause. This confidence is based on motives of the 
natural order, which in my pastoral I refrained from devel- 
oping precisely to avoid the semblance of meddling with the 
calculations of politicians or the plans of headquarters. It 
is based besides on supernatural motives of which my con-t 
science is the sole judge. I cherish this confidence. It sus- 
tains my courage, and because I love my faithful flock I 
desire to impart it to them. 

Once again where is the evil ? I do not claim to hinder 
you from indulging opposite hopes, and when I read the pas- 
torals and discourses of German and Austrian cardinals and 
bishops it never occurred to me to impute as a crime to them 
their exhortations to patience and hope addressed to their 
flocks and your soldiers. Why is it that what is religion 
beyond the Rhine is on this side political meddling? . 

But, say they, you deceive your hearers ; "y ou quote the 
inaccurate statements of incompetent persons." 

Incompetent? Is this quite certain? Suppose I had 
quoted diplomats, statesmen, military authorities? Why 
then, indeed, I should be justly accused of speaking politics. 

Besides, if the words quoted are inaccurate, why are you 
so disturbed? If I had quoted the evidence in detail, had 
brought forward the names of persons who had been mixed 
up with the events alluded to, I could understand your fears 
of an agitation. But what reason is there to fear conse- 
quences from an anonymous report, which for that reason 
is considered worthless? 

According to the German newspapers my crime is espe- 
cially this, that I called down on our enemies the chastise- 
ment of an epidemic. I said simply in general terms that 
human means are not enough to secure success, for man, 
however resourceful he may be or however great his efforts, 
remains dependent on Divine Omnipotence. Man proposes, 
I said, quoting a proverb known to every one and which in 
every-day languages embodies a thought inscribed on every 
page of Holy Writ — man proposes and God disposes. 



"ON MY RETURN FROM ROME" 203 

No nation, whether friendly or unfriendly, was expressly 
aimed at in my pastoral, but the first to whom the logical 
context points the application of this scriptural saying and 
of the homely Christian proverb derived from it is the 
nation to which my words were directly addressed, the Bel- 
gian nation, her army and together with her the armies of 
the Allies. 

Just before the phrase to which exception is taken I had 
written, "For us the future is not doubtful, but we must pre- 
pare for it, and to prepare for it we must foster within our- 
selves the virtue of patience and the spirit of sacrifice." 

And immediately after the offending phrase I said, 
"Purify your consciences; let purity, modesty, Christian sim- 
plicity, reign in your homes; prepare yourselves by contri- 
tion, etc." 

Between these two ideas they wish to insert a desire of 
vengeance, a prayer that a miraculous epidemic should fall 
on the enemy's army. Thus the logical connection of 
thought is broken, and to break it it was needful to do vio- 
lence to the context and to truth. 

"I must point out as particularly intolerable," your 
Excellency declares, "the allusion you make in your pastoral 
to an infringement of the religious liberty of the population 
in the occupied territory. Your Eminence knows better than 
any one how unjust this insinuation is." 

I am quite willing to furnish the proof of my assertion; 
but with this stipulation, that I am given an understanding 
that no harsh proceedings shall be taken against the persons 
whose testimony I have to produce. 

Meanwhile I notice in the allegations of March 15 an 
undoubted trespass on the liberty of my ministry. Your 
Excellency there reminds me that you have remitted to 
my tribunal for punishment, according to canonical disci- 
pline, certain ecclesiastics whose preaching had given um- 
brage to the occupying power. You add that for the fu- 
ture you will not act with like forbearance; the reason as- 
signed for your change of attitude is the example of my own 
insubordination. 

Your Excellency concludes that you have a duty to hold 



204 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

me morally responsible for the acts of the clergy and for 
the severe chastisements which they draw down on them- 
selves ; and you claim for so doing "the legitimate authority 
recognized in you by the law of nations." 

Now if there is one matter which canon law and the 
law of nations withdraw from the purview of the civil 
power, it is the exercise of preaching. One of the most 
inviolable features of religious liberty is the prerogative of 
the apostolic word. In the Church of Jesus Christ the 
right of preaching is so sacred that it belongs de jure only 
to the Pope and the bishops. Priests speak only in the 
name of their bishop and under his control. You are quite 
right in holding me responsible for the preaching of my 
clergy, but my responsibility is not to the civil power, but 
to the Church and the Sovereign Pontiff. 

Religious authority belongs of right divine exclusively 
to the Pope and to the bishops in union with him. The 
Church has at all times resisted the claim of the civil power 
that all her acts of jurisdiction should be submitted to its 
approval. 

It is evident then that, if even the lawfully established 
authority of a state had the right to subordinate to its good 
pleasure the promulgation of papal or episcopal acts, the 
supreme prerogative of church government would belong 
not to the Church, but to the secular power. Every legisla- 
tor is the born interpreter of his own laws. 

Your Excellency is quite willing, so you say, to authorize 
me to transmit to the faithful communications which the 
Holy Father would desire to make known to them through 
me. That is something, sir, but it is not enough. The 
bishop is not only the mouthpiece of papal instructions ; he is 
himself a teacher by divine right. 

I have the right to teach, to instruct, to guide my faith- 
ful people. I have that right, inasmuch as by the divine 
constitution of the Church I have that duty. 

And in carrying out that duty I have no other respon- 
sibility except to my conscience and to my hierarchical chief, 
our Holy Father the Pope. 

The law of nations codified in The Hague convention 



"ON MY RETURN FROM ROME" 205 

does not weaken, but rather strengthens, the prerogative 
which I claim for the episcopate. 

Under the rule of the Belgian constitution, the Church 
enjoys complete freedom. Article XIV of the constitution 
proclaims liberty of worship and its public exercise. Article 
XVI declares that the state has not the right to forbid to 
the ministers of any form of worship the publication of their 
acts. 

Now The Hague convention (Article XLIII) imposes 
on the occupying power the obligation to respect the con- 
stitution and the laws of the country occupied. 

When your Excellency brings before my tribunal priests 
whom you believe guilty of abuse in the exercise of their 
religious ministry, it is not merely an act of simple courtesy 
that you are performing, still less voluntary concession of a 
superior to an inferior. You are showing respect for a 
prerogative acknowledged to belong to the religious author- 
ity by canon law and also by the constitutional law of Bel- 
gium, which international law forbids you, as the occupying 
power, to violate. 

And when the Feldgericht of the province of Antwerp 
condemned to deportation and imprisonment the noble and 
courageous Chevalier Charles Dessain, on the charge of 
having published my last pastoral letter, it violated at once 
canon law, and, through the violation of the Belgian con- 
stitution, international law. 

As to these provisions of ecclesiastical law and of the 
Belgian constitution, one can understand that a foreign mili- 
tary court may not have fully grasped them, but it would 
not be easy to understand how the immediate representative 
of the imperial power, whose foresight and sincerity may 
not be called in question, should consent to allow them for 
a long time to be set aside. 

Each time that my attention has been called to an out- 
burst into which an ecclesiastic may have been betrayed 
while preaching, I have at once held an inquiry and have 
informed your Excellency of the result and in no single case 
has your Excellency persisted in the charge. It does not 
then appear that you have any reason to depart from your 



206 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

present method of procedure. In agreement with your Ex- 
cellency's views I hold myself responsible for the preaching 
and the attitude of my clergy ; but it is needful that I should 
be informed of blameworthy acts laid to their charge, if my 
responsibility is to be effective. 

I am still anxious to believe that the words "severe chas- 
tisement" that slipped from your Excellency's pen do not 
convey your fixed and final purpose. You will have the 
goodness to leave nothing undone to spare our priests, 
whose self-respect you may have admired, penalties which 
they do not deserve. You would not wish to deprive me of 
their assistance at a moment when more than ever it is 
necessary. 

It would be just, sir, that the public which has learned 
of your complaint against the archbishop of Malines should 
also be informed of his reply. 

Taking your stand on considerations which in your mind 
justified your conduct, you have not hesitated to inflict on 
me what you must regard as a stigma. Your letter ends 
with this stern conclusion: 'You have misused your high 
functions and the respect due to your cloth, pursued an un- 
bridled political propaganda, which would entail upon any 
ordinary citizen penal responsibilities." 

It would be difficult for any one to find words of a more 
infamous character than those you have used in my regard. 
My conscience protests against this language and hurls back 
the stigma. This document contains my justification. 

Trusting the chivalrous feelings of him whom I am 
addressing, trusting to the spirit of justice of him who has 
constituted himself my judge, I respectfully beg him to 
make known my defense to those before whom he has 
flaunted his accusations against me. 

Receive, I pray, Mr. Governor General, the assurance 
of my sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 



CHAPTER XXIV 

PATRIOTIC ACTION OF THE PRIESTS 

In consequence of the polemic raised by the Cardinal's 
journey and the publication of his letter, "On My Return 
from Rome," the occupying power redoubled the rigor of 
its measures affecting the clergy. In close succession several 
priests and clerics were arrested. The fury of the German 
police was let loose especially against the great educational 
establishments at Brussels. On March 19 a search, accom- 
panied by a good deal of uproar, was made at the College of 
St. Michael. 

At half-past five in the morning a hundred policemen 
and soldiers made a raid on the establishment. In spite 
of the most minute search, lasting till midday, they only 
succeeded in discovering and carrying off as booty some 
copies of the newspaper "Libre Belgique." Nevertheless 
Frere Devroye, rector of the college, who had just come out 
of prison, was again arrested. 

On April 14 it was the turn of St. Louis's Institute to 
receive a visit from the German police. They were looking 
for a student of philosophy, whom they succeeded in finding. 
That evening Canon Cocheteux, the director of the insti- 
tute, and the Abbe Truyens were taken to the Komman- 
dantur. 

The Governor General, in order to show plainly that in 
pursuing the clergy he had chiefly the Cardinal in view, 
inserted an official notice in the German press and the cen- 
sored press of Belgium, that arrests had been made in an 
ecclesiastical establishment where the Cardinal had apart- 
ments and where he stayed whenever he came to Brussels. 

On May 22 the military prosecutor asked for Canon 
Cocheteux a sentence of a year and three months' imprison- 

207 



208 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

ment for having advised pupils of his establishment to join 
the Belgian army, and that the Abbe Truyens should be 
sentenced to ten years' penal servitude for having given the 
lads the necessary instructions for crossing the frontier. 

His Eminence wrote to Baron von der Lancken point- 
ing out the serious consequences that would result to scholas- 
tic institutions from the arrest of their directors and pro- 
fessors. There followed between the Cardinal and the chief 
of the political department a correspondence relative to the 
attitude of the occupying power toward the clergy. 

Archbishop' s House, Malines, 

May 23, 19 1 6. 
To Baron von der Lancken, Chief of the Political Depart- 
ment, Governor General, Brussels. 

My dear Baron: As a result of the confidential con- 
versation that his Excellency the Nuncio of Brussels has 
had the honor to have with you and of which he was good 
enough to inform me, I have personally supported Madame 
Wibin's * request to his Excellency the Governor General, 
Baron von Bissing. I am confident that this request will 
be favorably received and I thank you beforehand for the 
kindness with which you have promised to support it. 

But I beg for more than this. I ask for your support 
on behalf of other matters affecting public order and which 
deeply concern me. Numerous priests engaged in teaching, 
notably the rector and prefect of studies of St. Michael's 
College, the director and several professors of St. Louis's 
Institute at Brussels, are already in prison or threatened 
with imprisonment. You are aware that our teaching staff is 
already greatly reduced, as several of our professors^ are in 
the army engaged as ambulance-bearers or chaplains. If 
the military authorities continue to persecute our clergy, we 
shall be compelled to face the painful contingency of hav- 
ing to close our ecclesiastical colleges. 

I particularly call your attention and the clemency of 
the Governor General to this situation at the moment when 

* Note — Madame Wibin was asking for a passport to Switzerland. 



PATRIOTIC ACTION OF PRIESTS 209 

the military prosecutor is asking for years of imprisonment 
against the director and teachers of St. Louis's Institute. 

Receive, Baron, the expression of my sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

The Chief of the Political Department of the Government 
General of Belgium. 

Brussels, May 31st, 19 16. 
To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of Malines. 

In answer to your Eminence's esteemed letter of the 
23rd inst., I have the honor to inform you that I have 
given my support to Madame Wibin's request to the Gov- 
ernor General and also that this will be granted. 

The incidents that took place at St. Louis's Institute are 
seized by your Eminence as an occasion for reopening the 
question of putting the clergy under arrest. If your Emi- 
nence will allow me to speak frankly, a fresh exchange of 
views is in no way unacceptable to me. In fact, ever since 
the beginning of the occupation this question has interested 
the German, quite as keenly as it has the ecclesiastical, au- 
thorities. It appears to me, nevertheless, that up to the 
present your Eminence has not grasped quite accurately 
the point of view from which the occupying power regards 
the matter. Even in your last letter you make use of the ex- 
pression, "persecution of the clergy." 

In no case can it be a question of persecution. When 
clergymen are condemned this is in virtue of the enforcement 
of laws and decrees before which everybody stands on an 
equality. The military courts take cognizance of wrong- 
doing, no matter who the culprit may be. It would be a 
flagrant injustice for us to accord special privileges to the 
clergy. To grant them after conviction, systematically, so 
to say, the remission of their punishment would be to ride 
straight toward the overthrow of justice. 

Naturally your Eminence draws attention to the injury 
caused to ecclesiastical education, and you fincl therein an 
adequate reason for claiming exceptions in favor of the 
clergy. The gravity of this reason must not be disregarded. 



210 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

But it is precisely for that reason that, according to my 
view, priests should, first and foremost, attend to the per- 
formance of their duties and not to run the risk of condem- 
nation. I think I am all the better authorized to speak in 
this way, seeing that their crimes, all things considered, bear 
forsooth the character of political demonstration. 

In taking severe steps against clergymen who are guilty 
of any infringement of the law, the judicial authorities of 
the occupying power do not apply any principle which is not 
in keeping with Belgian legislation. The penal code ex- 
pressly punishes attacks made in the course of religious serv- 
ices, either against the government or against an act of pub- 
lic authority. 

I need hardly tell your Eminence that no one more than 
the Governor General deplores the necessity of enforcing 
the code against priests. He regrets to see the clergy 
thus losing the respect and sullying the dignity appertaining 
to the ecclesiastical state. For this reason it is most desir- 
able that for the future priests should not commit any breach 
of the law and that thus the occupying power should not be 
constrained to inflict punishment on them. As justice must 
pursue its course with impartiality, it is only by preventing 
measures that it is possible to avoid the consequences re- 
sulting from the political action of the clergy, and to gain 
that end there is only one means, namely, that ecclesiastical 
authority should see to it that the clergy confine themselves 
to their religious duties. 

The Governor General has previously tried to gain some 
co-operation toward this end. I may inform your Eminence 
that he is inclined to give it another trial. With this end 
in view, he is about to address a letter to the bishops. He 
will explain the situation to them and will entreat them to 
influence their inferiors, in order to bring crimes and con- 
demnations to an end. 

I should be content could I hope that my frank and 
straightforward explanation might contribute to dissipate all 
evident misunderstandings. The occupying power, I per- 
mit myself to repeat, much regrets being obliged to condemn 
guilty priests chiefly because it sees in the clergy representa- 



PATRIOTIC ACTION OF PRIESTS 211 

tives of the social order, the moral authority of which should 
remain unimpaired. 

As, on the other hand, the ecclesiastical authorities real- 
ize that these convictions entail grave inconveniences, I can- 
not help openly stating to your Eminence that in all this I 
would like to keep in view our common interests. I also 
think that my straightforward language cannot but favor 
mutual understanding and perhaps promote a collaboration 
in which neither party would sacrifice anything to the other. 

I present to your Eminence the expression of my dis- 
tinguished consideration and have the honor to be yours 
very devotedly, 

(Signed) Lancken. 

Political Department of the Government General of Bel- 
gium. Brussels, June 3, 19 16. 
To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of Malines. 

I have the honor to inform your Eminence that at the 
moment of forwarding you my letter of May 31,1 had not 
then learned of the following case ; that is the only reason 
why I did not mention it. Last Sunday a solemn religious 
ceremony took place in the Cathedral of Antwerp in the 
presence of your Eminence. 

The sermon which was preached on the occasion by 
Frere Pauwels turned in great part on purely political topics. 
I do not wish to enter into details, but simply to state the 
fact that the preacher departed manifestly from his religious 
functions, and that the presence of your Eminence lent to 
this manifestation a special significance. It will be difficult 
for other priests not to perceive in this sermon an encour- 
aging example. Accordingly the occupying power cannot 
allow this incident to pass unnoticed, and it should at any 
rate have the assurance that Frere Pauwels has been in- 
vited by his ecclesiastical superiors to limit his activity to his 
religious duties. 

Up to now I have mentioned this incident to no one. In 
the general interest I should be glad to learn that your Emi- 



212 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

nence has taken care to restrain Frere Pauwels from indulg- 
ing for the future in like manifestations. 

(Signed) Lancken. 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 

June 8, 19 1 6. 
To Baron von der Lancken, Chief of the Political Depart- 
ment, Government General, Brussels. 

My dear Baron — I am very grateful to you for having 
seconded my request in favor of Madame Wibin and her 
children and I shall be pleased if you kindly convey my 
thanks to the Governor General. 

I was given permission some months ago to visit two 
priests imprisoned at St. Gilles. At this moment several 
priests of my diocese are detained in the same prison, nota- 
bly* unless I am mistaken, Frere Devroye, Canon Cocheteux, 
the Curates Wittemberg and Van Houdt, perhaps others 
whose names have not reached me. 

I shall have several hours of leisure at Brussels on Wed- 
nesday, June 21. You would greatly oblige me if you 
could authorize me to visit on that day at 4 p. m. (German 
time) the priests of my diocese detained in the prison of 
St. Gilles. 

I shall have the honor of answering separately the 
questions of general interest which your despatches No. 
5035 and No. 5920 treat of. 

Accept, Baron, the assurance of my sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 

June 24th, 1916. 
To Baron von der Lancken, Chief of the Political Depart- 
ment, Government General, Brussels. 
My dear Baron — The letter I. 5035, which you did me 
the honor to write on May 31st, answers very courteously 
the considerations contained in my letter of May 23 rela- 
tive to the severe treatment meted out, especially of late, to 
the clergy. 



PATRIOTIC ACTION OF PRIESTS 213 

It never once entered my head to beg privileges for the 
clergy, nor the systematic exercise, on your part, of the pre- 
rogative of pardon. When a punishment is justified and 
deserved priests courageously submit to it without mur- 
muring. If, indeed, the military tribunals confine themselves 
to enforcing, as regards the clergy, the provisions of the 
Belgian code, to which your esteemed letter alludes, we 
should not think of complaining. 

The letter of May 23rd has in view a complex situation 
where many surprising incidents synchronize. Thus at cer- 
tain epochs, following upon events that have no connection 
with anything criminal, justice suddenly redoubles alike its 
zeal in seeking for real or imaginary infringements of regu- 
lations and its severity in repressing them. We find our- 
selves during these last months in the presence of an acute 
crisis of judicial activity. Perquisitions, preventive arrests, 
convictions have kept increasing, while the clergy has made 
no change in its previous attitude. 

Then there are certain proceedings of which I submit 
two specimens to your consideration. A seminarist on 
Easter Monday was going on his holiday. At the railway 
station of Enghien his luggage was examined; he was then 
taken to Braine-le-Comte and from there to Mons, where 
he was condemned and imprisoned for several days, merely 
for taking with him some photographs of his Cardinal-Arch- 
bishop. 

M. Van Houdt, curate at Tervueren, had already under- 
gone a year's imprisonment at St. Gilles on the charge of 
having furnished a young man, who wished to join our 
army, with information about the route. His detention hav- 
ing come to an end, the good priest had just peacefully re- 
sumed his ministry. But the German authorities, recollect- 
ing that he had formerly in January, 19 15, refused to give 
an undertaking not to read from the pulpit the Pastoral 
entitled "Patriotism and Endurance," did not hesitate to 
make him face a second time the alternative of paying a fine 
of 100 marks or undergoing a week's imprisonment. At 
the present moment the worthy curate of Tervueren is in 
prison. 



214 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

I thank you, Baron, for having been so good as to in- 
trust to me by your esteemed letter of June 3rd (No. 5020) , 
the duty of looking into the case of Frere Pauwels. As I 
was present at Frere Pauwels's sermon, I am in a position 
to speak to you of it with complete knowledge of the sub- 
ject. 

The Rev. Frere did not attack the occupying power. 
On the contrary, he expressly declared that he would re- 
frain from uttering one single offensive word and make it 
his duty, if overcome by emotion, to restrain the ardor of 
his patriotism. 

He had taken for the subject of his discourse an explana- 
tion of the encyclical "Rerum novarum" of Leo XIII on 
the condition of the working classes. The gathering, in- 
deed, had been called to celebrate the twenty-fifth anniver- 
sary of the promulgation of this pontifical encyclical. 

The preacher had chosen for his text these words of 
the Sermon on the Mount: "Blessed are those who hunger 
and thirst after justice." That was his exordium. Then 
at once, directing his thoughts toward the Socialists, he af- 
firmed and established the natural necessity of social in- 
equality, and with some warmth demanded that it should be 
respected by all, as the expression of the order established 
by Providence. He traced out for masters and workmen 
their mutual duties in the interest of social peace. 

It is not difficult to understand that chance hearers, 
ignorant of the purpose of the meeting and ignorant in con- 
sequence of the social aims which actuated the audience, 
might have misunderstood and applied to the international 
struggles what the preacher said of the struggles of classes ; 
but the faithful carefully following the speaker could not 
fall into that mistake. 

I did, nevertheless, fear the confusion of thought, which, 
according to the report with which you were furnished, did 
actually arise. I therefore requested Frere Pauwels to 
come and see me, and I recommended him for the future to 
give his thoughts and his language greater precision, for 
the subjective dispositions and susceptibilities of the present 



PATRIOTIC ACTION OF PRIESTS 215 

hour are also facts which a prudent preacher should con- 
sider. 

I have received, my dear Baron, the letter you spoke 
of from the Governor General.* I shall do well, I think, 
in deferring my answer to his Excellency, to reserve till 
then the examination of the questions which your corre- 
spondence only touches incidentally. 

Receive, dear sir, the assurance of my sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

Political Department of the Government General of Bel- 
gium. 

Brussels, June 16th, 19 16. 
To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of 
Malines. 

I have the honor in answer to your Eminence's two 
esteemed letters, dated the 8th inst., to make the following 
communication. 

The Governor General gives you the permission which 
you ask for, to visit the prison of St. Gilles, where the 
priests Devroye, Cocheteux and Wittemberg are detained. 
As Frere Devroye has been summoned to appear before the 
tribunal of Charleroi for a suit fixed for June 19th, it 
will depend on the length of the pleadings whether or not 
he will be back by the 21st. I cannot be quite sure that the 
Curate Wittemberg will be in prison on that day. The 
Curate Van Houdt has been at liberty since June 6th. He 
had been arrested to undergo punishment to which he was 
sentenced in January, 19 15. 

I ask your Eminence to note that only prisoners who 
have already been convicted can receive visits. This per- 
mission is not granted to those who are awaiting trial. 

Your Eminence speaks of a seminarist of Malines. Ac- 
cording to precise information, I can certify that you have 
been totally misinformed. How could difficulties be created 
for a seminarist on the plea of his carrying on his person 
the photograph of his Cardinal at a time when this por- 

* Note — This letter is reproduced later on. 



2i6 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

trait is exposed for sale at all the bookstalls without the 
slightest opposition from the Governor General? 

If the seminarist was arrested, it was not on account 
of portraits which he had, but because his identity papers 
were not in order. When the competent authorities had 
ascertained his identity he was set at liberty. He was not 
compelled to appear before any tribunal. 

I ask myself if, in certain reports furnished to your 
Eminence regarding various incidents, it is not needful to 
take account of "subjective dispositions" or personal ties 
of which your Eminence speaks in regard to Frere Pau- 
wels. At any rate, it appears that the objective reasons 
of the occupying power's procedure are seldom regarded 
from a wholly impartial standpoint. 

Concerning the sermon complained of, which was 
preached by Frere Pauwels, the Governor General, to whom 
I have made a report, has learned with satisfaction of your 
Eminence's speedy intervention. He hopes the results of 
this intervention will continue to make themselves felt. 

I present to your Eminence the expression of my sincere 
esteem. Yours devotedly, 

(Signed) Lancken. 

Archbishop* 's House, Malines, 

June 25th, 1916. 
To Baron von der Lancken, Chief of the Political Depart- 
ment, Government General, Brussels. 

My dear Baron — I am very grateful for the permission 
you obtained for me to visit MM. Cocheteux and Wittem- 
berg detained at the prison of St. Gilles. It was a consola- 
tion to see them again. As you had conjectured, Frere 
Devroye was still at Charleroi. I presume that the permis- 
sion already granted me is available for the next occasion 
I may have to see him. 

Would you be kind enough to say to the Governor Gen- 
eral for me that I am pleased he did not pursue Frere 
Pauwels' case any further. 

Let me assure you, Baron, that you have received a mis- 
leading report of the incident mentioned in my letter of the 



PATRIOTIC ACTION OF PRIESTS 217 

8th, regarding the seminarist, Emile Mertens. It may be 
that the ultimate finding of the court in the case of this sem- 
inarist does not mention the circumstance that he carried 
portraits of his archbishop ; but the examination at Enghien 
and Braine-le-Comte dwelt long and pointedly on this fact. 
The student was arrested April 24th at Enghien, detained 
at Braine-le-Comte the 25th, taken to prison at Mons the 
26th and before being set at liberty, which was on the 28th, 
he had to undergo a fresh examination, which had nothing 
whatever to do with the previous examination. It is very 
likely that you have received only information regarding this 
last. 

You are quite right in pointing out that my portrait is 
on sale in the shops, but you seem to be unaware that this 
sale was more than once forbidden, especially during a 
definite period at Namur and Dinant. But this is very 
unimportant and I have never complained of it to any one, 
my sole object being to call your attention to certain vexa- 
tions and petty doings of underlings. 

Receive, Baron, the assurance of my sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

While this correspondence was taking place between 
the Cardinal and Baron von der Lancken relative to the 
attitude of the occupying power toward priests, the Gov- 
ernor General, on his part, began a correspondence on the 
same subject. If any of the clergy are prosecuted and con- 
victed, it is due, he maintains, to their transgressing the 
German decrees and taking advantage of their priestly min- 
istry to trespass on the domain of politics. To this charge 
the Cardinal replies by proving that the clergy does not step 
outside its province while maintaining the patriotism of the 
people and preaching love of country and Belgian lib- 
erty. 

As it progressed, the debate widened and extended to 
the rights of the occupying power, a question which was the 
subject of the long controversy between the Cardinal and 
Baron von der Lancken related in the preceding chapter. 



218 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

Government General of Belgium, Brussels, 

June 4th, 19 1 6. 
To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of 
Malines. 

Your Eminence will agree with me in regretting the 
breaches committed by priests against the occupying power 
and the convictions that have been the inevitable result. 
From the petitions for pardon addressed to me I am bound 
to infer that a multitude of hardships arise from the fact 
that priests have to be torn from their ministry to go and 
suffer the penalties incurred. These convictions must be- 
yond measure be regretted, since the respect and dignity 
belonging to the priestly state are thereby impaired. Yet 
the people do not cease repeating that the fire of patriotism 
is a valid excuse for these priests. On the other hand, they 
try to find extenuating circumstances for them by saying 
that they are constrained to respond to the patriotic spirit of 
the population, even though they are aware that by acting 
in this manner they are transgressing my regulations. 

I must declare that this opinion misconstrues completely 
the juridical position of the population in the occupied ter- 
ritory toward the occupying power. For The Hague con- 
vention (Article XLIII), which imposes on me the duty of 
watching over the good order and well-being of the country, 
was ratified in 19 10 by the representatives of Belgium. 

It has thus the binding force of a law of the land, 
to which all the population, the clergy included, are bound 
to submit. 

I should have to reproach myself with breaking the 
law if for special reasons I agree to make an exception in 
favor of the clergy. In the administration of justice, the 
law does not allow any distinction of persons. I should 
place myself in conflict with the prerogative of pardon if 
I consented to remit altogether in favor of the condemned 
the punishment inflicted on them, without, at the same time, 
taking into account that the case of certain culpable priests, 
who have been brought to trial, exclude every act of par- 
don. There is but one way for priests to avoid these con- 
demnations; they must observe a calm attitude and not 



PATRIOTIC ACTION OF PRIESTS 219 

meddle in politics. And it is on that account that I appeal 
to your Eminence and beg of you to prevail on your sub- 
ordinates, in the exercise of their ministry and in their gen- 
eral conduct, to abstain from all political activity, and still 
more not to render themselves guilty of grave breaches of 
regulations. I attach the utmost importance to this, that 
they keep from circulating clandestine publications, an of- 
fense of which latterly they have often been guilty. 

May I implore your Eminence to inform me if I can 
count on your co-operation for this object? Moreover, I 
only ask for the observance of the pledges which the bishops 
have given for the correctness of the clergy's attitude. 

I present to your Eminence the expression of my sincere 
esteem. 

(Signed) Baron von Bissing, 

Lieutenant General. 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 

June 23d, 19 1 6. 
To His Excellency Baron von Bissing, Governor General, 
Brussels. 

Your Excellency kindly writes in your esteemed letter 
of June 4th (No. 5139) that you deplore the penalties 
inflicted on our priests by the military tribunals. But, as 
to these penalties, you regard them as fully justified, because 
necessary for the maintenance of public order, of which The 
Hague convention intrusts to you the keeping. 

The clergy, moreover, can lay no claim to a privilege 
that would withdraw them from justice, nor to a continu- 
ous application of a right to pardon. There is only one 
method by which the clergy can escape judicial penalties, 
namely, to abstain from political action. Your Excellency 
begs my co-operation for the attainment of this result; and 
you appeal to the understanding come to by the Belgian 
bishops, in the name of the clergy, with the occupying 
power. 

Such is, I believe, a faithful summary of the dispatch 
of June 4th to which my ministerial engagements have to 
my regret hindered me from replying sooner. 



220 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

Your Excellency has good reason to deplore the severe 
treatment which our priests have to suffer. I also render 
homage to the loftiness of this sentiment and I share it 
with you very heartily. 

With you I am concerned for the public order, but 
I do not agree with you as to the means of safeguarding it. 
The bishops and the clergy have a duty to be the foremost 
upholders of order. They know it, but they know also that 
Belgium, their country, is still, thank God, independent and 
that it would be iniquitous and rash to treat it like a con- 
quered country. 

Germany, which today occupies a very great portion of 
our provinces, but which the fortune of war may tomorrow 
drive back across our borders, is a belligerent nation. Bel- 
gium is also a belligerent nation. Neither of the two is 
victorious ; neither has the right to enslave the other. 

In spite of the military occupation of a great part of 
her provinces, our Belgian fatherland has not ceased to be 
of right an autonomous sovereign nation. Our respect and 
love for the soil and for our Belgian liberties are then for 
all of us an honor and a duty. To realize this honor and 
to preach this duty forms part of the clergy's social mis- 
sion. In these troubled times in which we live each soul has 
the right to ask of his pastor: What is my duty? Who 
represents in my case authority? What have I to do to 
render to God the things that are of God and to Caesar the 
things that are Caesar's ? 

Well, sir, apart from some heated expressions which 
escape at times from even the most cautious, in the heat of 
delivery and which cannot be taken literally when it is a 
question of estimating the general spirit of a social class, 
the preaching of the clergy has not overstepped, in safe- 
guarding patriotism, the limits which I have just defined. A 
score of times I have personally examined the sermons that 
have been denounced by the civil authority or by the mili- 
tary courts. I have always found that the accused preacher 
had simply affirmed, without affront to the occupying power, 
that the Belgian fatherland is whole and united, that the 



PATRIOTIC ACTION OF PRIESTS 221 

sole legitimate authority for the Belgian conscience is King 
Albert, his government, his magistracy and his army. 

Were you willing, Excellency, to grasp this elementary 
truth of jurisprudence, the conflicts between us would come 
to an end. 

Your predecessor, the late Baron von der Goltz, had 
understood it. It is a rash thing for you to wish to do 
violence to the noblest feeling of a people's conscience. "I 
ask of no one," he said in a proclamation issued at Brus- 
sels, September 2d, 19 14, "I ask of no one to renounce 
his patriotic sentiments." 

Your Excellency has not disavowed this noble procla- 
mation. 

It is in showing respect for our patriotic feelings that 
the occupying power will find the most solid guarantee for 
public order. The Belgian bishops anticipated this respect 
when, on February 5th, 19 15, in the agreement to which 
your letter alludes, they wrote: "The bishops have no in- 
tention to strike a blow at public order ; and if ever a mem- 
ber of the clergy were in this regard forgetful of his duty, 
or if the German authorities regarded him as such, we ask 
but one thing, namely, that the case be brought before the 
bishop of the diocese to which this member of the clergy 
is found to belong." 

Your Excellency appeals to Article XLIII of The 
Hague convention and reminds us that Belgium was a 
party thereto. We are aware of it. We make all the 
articles of the convention our own and earnestly demand 
their application. But this Article XLIII precisely requires 
the occupying power to insure as far as possible public order 
"by respecting, except in the case of absolute necessity, the 
laws in force in the country occupied." 

Apply to us the Belgian constitution wherever it refers 
to the liberty of religious preaching, bring before our ec- 
clesiastical court doubtful cases. In this way you will do 
what is most prudent and most just to insure the order of 
public life, "by respecting, save in absolute necessity, the 
laws in force in the country." 

Has not the method adopted by the Belgian episcopate 



222 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

and followed by the clergy established its reputation? Very 
soon two years will have elapsed since our people have had 
to put up with the foreigner, his requisitions, his domiciliary 
visits, his threats, his condemnations; but not a single revo- 
lutionary blow has been struck. Not one of your soldiers 
has been molested. 

In my own turn, Baron, I confidently state my con- 
clusions. We are bound both of us, one in the civil and 
military order, the other in the religious and moral order, 
to work together for the public welfare. As our point of 
departure let us take the law, I mean the law both natural 
and international, which recognizes the moral sovereignty of 
Belgium as a country. Without attacking the occupying 
power and beyond any danger of revolt, let this Christian 
patriotism be maintained which, in a pastoral letter long 
before the war, I did not hesitate to call a religious virtue, 
i. e., "the piety of patriotism." 

I do not deny that you have your part to play when 
you close all avenues leading abroad, and you arrest those 
of our fellow countrymen who attempt to cross the fron- 
tiers ; but do not treat as traitors these heroic young fellows 
who, at the risk of their liberty and their life, have the 
ambition to go and enroll themselves in our armies. Toler- 
ate no longer the military courts that regard the purest civic 
virtue as treason. 

No longer condemn the teachers of youth for having 
approved, or for not having disapproved, a legitimate de- 
sire for the exercise of valor; do not inflict imprisonment 
or fine for their failing to denounce to the vengeance of 
your tribunals a pupil, perhaps a spiritual son. 

No longer make it a crime for generous souls to refuse 
a morsel of bread, an alms, a temporary shelter to the 
man of the people who tears himself away from his fire- 
side to fly to the defense of his fatherland. Do not punish 
charity. 

Do not set traps for noble young fellows by inviting 
them to furnish or transmit correspondence or uncensored 
documents to keep recruits and to betray companions in 
misfortune. 



PATRIOTIC ACTION OF PRIESTS 223 

When a wretched young fellow is arrested, do not use- 
lessly prolong his preventive detention. Grant him counsel 
to sustain him and to defend him before his judges. He 
has that right; see to it that there is some proportion 
between the crime and the penalty. Stop the promiscuous 
awarding of penal servitude, the pain of death, as deterrent 
to breaches of the law. 

We claim for the clergy neither exceptional regulations 
nor a systematic application of the right of pardon. We 
only want a genuine interpretation of the law. 

Is it not astounding, in truth, that Belgians are reduced 
to ask for strict justice? 

When the German army invaded our territory, the 
Chancellor of the empire avowed in the face of the world 
that Germany was violating our rights ; he promised to leave 
nothing undone to repair our wrongs. It is not then the 
simple respect for justice that we ought to look for at her 
hands but earnest good-will, a spirit of reparation, an ef- 
ficacious desire to reduce for us to a minimum all the dis- 
agreeable consequences of an occupation unjustifiable from 
its very inception. 

Receive, sir, the assurance of my sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

Government General of Belgium, Brussels, 
P. A. I. 5898. June 2%th, 1916. 

To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of 
Malines. 
I acknowledge receipt of your Eminence's esteemed let- 
ter of the 23rd inst. First of all, to avoid all confusion, 
I ask you to note that in my letter of June 4th (No. 5193) 
I did not deplore the severe and deserved condemnations 
incurred by priests before military courts; I simply mani- 
fested my lively regret to discover that in certain dioceses, 
in spite of all my efforts to get superior ecclesiastics to in- 
fluence the priests subject to them, the number of breaches 
against my regulations committed by members of the clergy 
had not diminished. 



224 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

Even lately ecclesiastics have not hesitated to profane 
the sacred character of their churches by poisoning therein 
the spirit of the Belgian people and inspiring it with hatred. 
From the pulpit they have hurled against my country and 
the occupying power insults and baseless accusations. They 
ought to be punished for having been, if not the authors, 
at least the propagators of publications vilely insulting. 

We could not tolerate the assistance given by priests 
to secret organizations having for their object to injure 
Germany and increase the forces of our enemies already 
so considerable, by permitting Belgians of military age to 
cross the frontier. 

Although I do not indulge the hope that these fresh 
declarations will result in changing your Eminence's opinion 
on the grave breaches of which members of the clergy 
never cease to render themselves guilty, yet I cannot omit a 
refutation of the mistaken notions which seem to form the 
basis of your judgment. 

I regard it as my chief duty to protect most energetic- 
ally, in the part of Belgium which we occupy, the German 
interests of which his Majesty the Emperor has made me 
the guardian. I should fail in this duty if in compliance 
with your Eminence's wishes I refrained from prosecuting 
those who commit acts that endanger the security of the 
empire and those who urge the people to commit them. 

Be also impartial enough, my Lord Cardinal, to respect 
our patriotic feelings, you who not only pay homage to 
the patriotic demonstrations of the clergy and people of 
Belgium in general, but encourage them in circumstances 
which are of a nature to create intolerable situations. As 
to the rest of my letter, I feel bound, in order to avoid mis- 
understandings which might easily have unpleasant conse- 
quence for those concerned, to make the following state- 
ment: During the occupation the only legal political power 
in the occupied territory is what I exercise. To this power 
alone is obedience due and not to the king of the Belgians 
and his government, whose power in the occupied ter- 
ritory is in fact and in law extinct. Should this obedience 



PATRIOTIC ACTION OF PRIESTS 225 

be not willingly given, I am then compelled to exact it by 
the enforcement of the German penal laws. 

These laws are applicable to all the inhabitants of the 
occupied territory without any exception as to persons. The 
courts only do their duty when they enforce these laws 
justly and without consideration of the person arraigned. 
According to the principles of German jurisprudence, they 
must not yield to any influence nor permit themselves to be 
enticed to deliver judgment according to instructions. 

On myself alone rests the responsibility for the main- 
tenance of order and the welfare of the population, and it 
belongs to me alone to judge of the fitness of the steps 
that must be taken for its preservation. I have never 
ceased to appreciate the Belgians' patriotism nor have I 
forbidden its legitimate display. 

It is now two years since I accepted the office of Gov- 
ernor General. If during that time in spite of the incessant 
instigation to hatred and passive resistance against the state 
of things caused by the occupation the Belgian people have 
remained calm, and, as I acknowledge, given proof of being 
better disposed toward us, it must surely be ascribed to the 
steps I have taken, steps that are just but which necessity 
at times renders severe. In so doing I am conscientiously 
performing a duty, which is to watch over the welfare of 
the land intrusted to my care and the fulfillment of which I 
have much at heart. 

I present to your Eminence the expression of my sincere 
esteem. Yours devotedly, 

(Signed) Baron von Bissing, 

Lieutenant General. 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 

July iith, 191 6. 
To His Excellency Baron von Bissing, Governor General 
of Belgium, Brussels. 
Baron — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of 
your Excellency's letter of June 28th. In the mind of the 
writer perhaps that letter required no reply; but considered 
from my point of view it demands some explanations. 



226 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

First. Your Excellency reverts once more to the ser- 
mons of the clergy and censures them in terms which I 
prefer not to repeat. But why has your Excellency so 
brusquely cut short a correspondence which we were carrying 
on in regard to that very subject and which you yourself had 
invited? 

You have, indeed, at various times brought ill-defined 
charges against the sermons of our priests; I ventured to 
ask of you more precise accusations and in several cases you 
did not refuse. In each of these I forthwith held an in- 
quiry and laid the results before you. In every case the' 
charges were proved unfounded. This rebutting method of 
inquiry — the only means of shedding light on .the cases 
under consideration — happily stopped several hasty con- 
demnations. Would it then be equitable or wise to abandon 
now this mode of procedure and fall back upon accusations 
which cannot be investigated? 

Second. Another complaint. Certain members of the 
clergy assist lads to join the Belgian army. But your Ex- 
cellency surely is not unaware that Belgium and Germany, 
through no fault of ours, are two enemy belligerent na- 
tions? These noble souls that run the risk of the most 
severe punishments, even electrocution, to go and defend 
their country, can you impute it as a crime to a priest that 
he should share this admiration? Some of these brave 
youths fall by the way victims of their patriotic bravery. 
Are they not more than a sufficient ransom for your mili- 
tary regulations? 

Others reach their goal and add a few units to the 
handful of soldiers of the Yser, but can they cause dis- 
quietude to an army of eight and a half million? This 
last remark is not mine, but it was flung at us months ago 
by one of your most prominent chiefs. It was not the 
time then to take it up. 

Third. Your Excellency has, you say, to guard German 
security, "die deutsche Sicherheit," and must therefore take 
account of every act likely to bring about unendurable situa- 
tions, "unhaltbaren Zustanden." 

Such indefinite expressions are not of a kind to promote 



PATRIOTIC ACTION OF PRIESTS 227 

the understanding for which your Excellency had craved 
jTiy co-operation. Certainly the Governor General's vigi- 
lance should include the whole army of occupation; but 
should it sacrifice thereto the Belgian people? Your Ex- 
cellency is kind enough to repeat that you have at heart 
the welfare of the country intrusted to your administration. 
A country's chief blessing is its liberty. Treat, I pray you, 
the Belgians as a nation not yet conquered. Do not exas- 
perate them by claiming to stifle in their breasts their hopes 
of a better time to come. Your vigilance will be thereby 
less frequently demanded. 

We too are concerned to reconcile the welfare of the 
Belgians with the security of the Germans, for we aim 
at respecting the rights of nations. Thus whatever turn 
military operations may one day take, we shall preach to 
our people what we have preached to them long before your 
regiments ever trod the Belgian soil, namely, that we must 
commit to our army and to our loyal allies the defense of 
our liberty. 

Your Excellency sees but one danger to the public order, 
the extolling of the virtue of patriotism. I see another, 
the exasperation of a people unjustly oppressed. 

Your Excellency sees but one remedy for the evil that 
you fear, Might. I see another and a better one, respect 
for civic dignity. 

I believe I understand better than any foreigner the 
Belgian people's soul. 

Fourth. Anxious to obviate misunderstandings, your 
Excellency devotes the second part of your letter to a state- 
ment of principles on the situation of the occupying power, 
on the responsibilities which weigh upon you, on the method 
by which you intend to govern us. 

On this point, Baron, there is between us a fundamental 
and irreducible divergence. 

A nation has only one legitimate supreme authority; 
two are quite inconceivable. 

As long as Belgium is not recognized by international 
law as a constituent part of the German Empire, the occu- 



228 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

pied provinces legally and morally depend on their legiti- 
mate government and on it alone. 

The occupying power possesses an authority de facto, 
but can claim no "right" to such possession. 

The occupied country has to submit to the "de facto" 
authority. 

Obedience, as a moral obligation, is due only to the 
authority of the legitimate government, which, despite the 
momentary obstacles limiting its sovereign prerogative, is 
and remains the government of the country. 

I am quite aware this legitimate government requires us 
to accept, without any signs of external disaffection, the 
regulations of the occupying power, so long as these violate 
neither international law nor our dignity as patriots. I am 
aware also that, with these limitations, the above-mentioned 
government expects us to observe these regulations in order 
thus to spare Belgium falling into a condition worse than 
that which has been imposed on it by force. 

It is for these reasons we respect these regulations our- 
selves and enjoin others to do the same. 

But when the occupying power violates The Hague con- 
vention or does violence to our dignity as men or as citizens 
of the Belgian nation, we must raise our voice in protest. 
Your Excellency attempts to stifle this protest and reserves 
to yourself the right to speak, saying that, "You alone are 
qualified to judge of what the public order and the welfare 
of our population demand." 

Excuse me, your Excellency. The Hague convention is 
not a decree of an occupying power, but an international 
contract. This contract Germany has signed in the same way 
as Belgium. We are powerless to restrain the power of 
your military arm, but we have the right, and at the same 
time the duty, of satisfying our conscience in reminding 
you that an account will be exacted from you one day before 
the international tribunal of The Hague and also before 
history of the use or misuse you have made of the weapons 
of power. 

The empire that you represent has pledged itself at The 
Hague never to misuse this power, if ever it came into pos- 



PATRIOTIC ACTION OF PRIESTS 229 

session of it. You are bound in conscience by this pledge. 
Kant, to whom must be attributed the perversion of all 
German philosophical speculation and against whose in- 
fluence I am proud to have struggled throughout my 
career, divorces right from morality. Hence the notion 
which identifies right with an authority devoid of aught save, 
the simple power of coercion. Against this arbitrary mental 
identification, justifying as it does despotism, the conscience 
of humanity protests. 

I fear that your Excellency, in spite of your natural up- 
rightness and religious sentiments and the promise made to 
us, in writing or in conversation, to alleviate our misfortunes 
and to heal our wounds, is dominated unconsciously by this 
false notion of government. Thus it is that today you 
declare you expect from stern severity alone the consolida- 
tion of your power of occupation. 

Receive, dear Governor General, the expression of my 
sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 



CHAPTER XXV 

PROTEST OF THE BISHOPS AGAINST THE ENROLLMENT IN 

THE GERMAN ARMY OF YOUNG BELGIANS OF 

GERMAN PARENTAGE 

The Imperial Government declared its intention of forc- 
ing into the rank of the German army all young men of 
German parentage born in Belgium, but who had become 
legally naturalized Belgians through having publicly de- 
clared in favor of the country of their birth. At various 
places, notably at Brussels, Verviers and Nivelles, a number 
of young men in this category were summoned to appear 
before the military authorities. After undergoing a medical 
examination they were given a temporary holiday to await 
being drafted. 

The Cardinal, together with the Bishops of Liege, 
Namur and Tournai, protested against this open violation 
of The Hague convention. 

Archbishop' s House, Malines, 

July 3d, 19 16. 
To His Excellency Baron von Bissing, Governor General, 
Brussels. 
Your Excellency — The whole Belgian nation is deeply 
moved at the news that young men of German extraction, 
who have declared for Belgian nationality, are threatened 
with enrollment in the German army. Such a measure is 
opposed to The Hague convention, to which Germany has 
put her signature. It does violence to the deepest senti- 
ments of our Belgian fatherland by dragging away from 
it its adopted children. It outrages the conscience of many 
young men, who, already saddened by their present inability 

230 



YOUNG BELGIANS IN GERMAN ARMY 231 

to serve their country, see themselves compelled to take 
arms against her. 

For these reasons the bishops of Belgium in the interest 
of morality, with the guardianship of which they have been 
intrusted, have recourse to your Excellency. They venture 
to express their confidence that you will spare no effort 
to prevent the authorities of the empire from committing 
such a flagrant infringement both of the international law 
and the rights of conscience, and further that your Excel- 
lency will make an effort to spare our country, already so 
sorely tried, the infliction of so cruel a humiliation. 

Kindly accept in anticipation the expression of our 
thanks for the intervention we solicit and feel sure you 
will not refuse, as also the assurance of our sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

(Signed) Th. Louis Heylen, 

Bishop of Namur, 

(Signed) M. H. Rotten, 

Bishop of Liege, 

(Signed) Am. M. Crooy, 

Bishop of Tournai. 

The Governor General replied neither to the bishops' 
letter nor to a petition on the same subject addressed to 
him, about the same time, by a number of notabilities of the 
legal and political world dwelling in occupied parts of Bel- 
gium. Nevertheless, these decrees which had begun to be 
put into force were allowed to lapse and the plan of forcible 
enrollment in the German army of young Belgians of Ger- 
man parentage was not carried out. 



CHAPTER XXVI 

THE CARDINAL'S PUBLIC ADDRESS IN THE CHURCH OF STE. 
GUDULE, JULY 21, I916 

The Governor of Brussels, Lieutenant General Hurt, 
forbade the celebration of the National Day, July 21. In 
a manifesto published as early as the 17th, he prohibited 
under a penalty of six months and a fine of 20,000 marks 
any "demonstration on the occasion; such as public meet- 
ings, processions, speeches, addresses, school treats, the 
floral decoration of certain statues, beflagging of buildings, 
public or private, early closing of shops, restaurants, etc." 

On the eve of the celebration appeared a further warn- 
ing of the Governor, in which the public was advised to have 
nothing to do with a certain section of irresponsible people 
who, it was rumored, were endeavoring to influence the 
population against the observance of the decree and that 
penalties for infraction of the order would be applied ruth- 
lessly and without mercy. 

These threats were followed by the appearance in the 
streets of patrols of armored cars, destined to instill fear 
into the people's minds. The only result of these measures 
was to stimulate further the desire of the inhabitants of 
Brussels to manifest their patriotic ardor. Hence, while re- 
specting the letter of the decree, they had recourse to numer- 
ous devices, each more ingenious than the other, in celebrat- 
ing the National Day. In most churches a dirge was sub- 
stituted for the customary Te Deum. The ceremony in 
the Church of St. Gudule was graced by the presence of 
the Cardinal. The great church on the occasion was filled 
to overflowing; hundreds of people, unable to obtain access 
to it, stationed themselves in the adjoining square. 

After the gospel the Cardinal ascended the pulpit in 

232 



ADDRESS AT STE. GUDULE 233 

vestments and miter and pronounced the following allocu- 
tion: 

"Before beginning I want you to do an act of self- 
restraint; should any of you feel overcome by strong emo- 
tion, kindly refrain from showing it. The hour for ex- 
pressing adequately the intensity of your feelings has not 
yet struck. 

" 'Jerusalem facta est habitatio exterorum; dies festi 
ejus conversi sunt in luctum.' (Jerusalem was made the 
habitation of strangers; her festival days were turned into 
mourning.) — Machabees, Book I, chapter I, verses 40-41. 

"My dearest Brethren — We were to have gathered here 
together to celebrate the eighty-fifth anniversary of our 
national independence. 

"Fourteen years hence on this very day our cathedrals 
restored and our churches rebuilt will open wide their doors. 
The people will crowd them, our King Albert, standing on 
his throne, will freely bow his unconquered head before his 
Majesty, the King of Kings. The Queen and the royal 
princes will form a group around him. We ourselves shall 
hear the joyous pealing of our bells and throughout the 
entire country, under the vaults of our temples, we Belgians, 
hand in hand, will renew our oaths to God, to our sovereign, 
to our liberties, while our bishops and priests, true inter- 
preters of the soul of the nation, shall intone in the enthusi- 
asm of their gratitude a triumphal Te Deum. 

"Today the hymn of joy dies on our lips. 

"The Jewish people in captivity in Babylon sat and wept 
on the banks of the Euphrates and watched the waters of 
the river as they flowed, while their harps hung silent amidst 
the skirting willows. Who would have the courage to sing 
the song of Jehovah in a strange land? 'O Jerusalem, our 
fatherland,' cried the psalmist, 'if I forget thee, let my 
right hand be forgotten ! Let my tongue cleave to my jaws, 
if I do not remember thee, if I make not thee the beginning 
of my joy.' 

"The concluding words of the psalm, embodying a kind 
of curse, we pass over in stern silence. We are not of the 
Old Testament that sanctioned the law of retaliation, 'Eye 



234 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

for an eye, tooth for a tooth.' No words of hatred shall 
sully our lips, cleansed as they are by the fire of Christian 
love. 

"To hate is to aim at doing ill and to take pleasure in it. 
Whatever may be our sorrows, we will not pursue with 
hatred those that inflict them on us. 

"National union of hearts is linked among us to world- 
wide brotherhood. 

"But above this sentiment of world-wide brotherhood 
we place respect for absolute right, without which inter- 
course either between individual or between nations is im- 
possible. 

"Hence with the greatest authority in Christian theology, 
St. Thomas Aquinas, we declare the prosecution of crime by 
competent authority is a virtue. Crime, injustice, disturb- 
ances of the public peace, whether by individuals or by 
bodies of men, must be repressed. Conscience is disturbed, 
troubled and harassed so long as the guilty, according to the 
common expression, so true and at once so expressive, has 
not been put in his place. To put things and men in their 
proper place is to re-establish order, restore equilibrium, 
to reintroduce peace on a basis of justice. Public vengeance 
understood in this way may offend the susceptibility of 
feeble minds. It is, nevertheless, according to St. Thomas 
Aquinas, the expression, the law, of charity and of its 
flame, which is zeal. The consequent suffering inflicted on 
people is a weapon for vindicating outraged right, not an 
aim in itself. 

"How otherwise love order without detesting disorder? 
How wish for peace intelligently without eliminating what- 
ever undermines it? How, lastly, love one's own brother — 
that is, wish him well — without at the same time desiring to 
see his mind willingly or by compulsion conform to the im- 
mutable dictates of justice and truth? 

"It is from such high standpoints that war must be 
viewed in order to understand its grandeur. Once more I 
repeat there may be certain effeminate souls, in whose eyes 
war is merely the exploding of mines, the bursting of shells, 
the butchery of men, the shedding of blood and the piling 



ADDRESS AT STE. GUDULE 235 

up of corpses. Short-sighted politicians may still be found 
with low views, for whom the stakes of battle are but a 
passing interest, the seizure or reconquest of ground or of a 
province. 

"No. If, in spite of its horrors, war — understand a 
just war — possesses such stern attractions, it is simply be- 
cause it is the disinterested act of a people that yield up, or 
is disposed to yield up, its most precious possessions, its 
life, in defense and in vindication of something that cannot 
be weighed, or counted, or purchased — justice, honor, peace 
and liberty. 

"Have you not felt during the last two years that the 
war, the keen sustained attention you bestow upon it (even 
from here), purifies you, delivers you from dross, calms 
you, makes you look up to something better than yourself? 
It is toward the ideal of justice and honor that you rise. 
Its charm lifts you up. 

"And because this idea — if it is not a vain delusion, 
which takes flight like the unsubstantial figment of a dream 
— ought to have its seat in a living, subsisting subject, I 
am never tired of asserting this truth which keeps us under 
its yoke, viz., that God reveals Himself as the Master over- 
ruling events and the wills of men, the Sacred Master of the 
Universal Conscience. 

"Oh, if we were able to clasp in our arms our heroes, 
who at the front are fighting for us or, in their underground 
shelters, impatiently await their turn to advance to the 
firing line ; if we were allowed to catch and understand the 
beatings of their hearts, is it not this they would say to us: 
'I am doing my duty, I am offering myself a victim of jus- 
tice.' And you wives and mothers, relate to me in your 
turn the beauty of these tragic years; wives whose every 
thought, sad but at the same time resigned, goes out to the 
absent one, telling him of your longings, your long waiting 
and your prayers; mothers whose hearts are rent by the 
anguish of every minute, you who have given up your sons 
and will not take them back, as we contemplate you, our 
admiration for you at every moment holds us breathless. 

"The head of one of our noblest families wrote to me : 



236 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

'Our son of the Seventh Regiment of the Line has fallen; 
my wife and I feel our hearts broken, but if need be we 
would gladly give him again.' 

"A curate of the capital has just been condemned to 
twelve years' penal servitude. I was allowed to go in his 
cell to embrace and bless him. 'I have,' said he, 'three 
brothers at the front. I believe I am here for aiding my 
youngest brother, a lad of seventeen, to join his elder broth- 
ers; one of my sisters is here in a neighboring cell; but, 
thanks be to God, my mother is not alone; she has told 
us so; besides she does not weep.' 

"Do not our mothers make us think of the mother 
of the Machabees? What lessons of moral grandeur! 
Both here and on the roads leading to exile in the prisons 
and concentration camps in Holland and Germany. 

"Do we reflect sufficiently how much those brave men 
must suffer, who from the very beginning of the war, from 
the day after the defense of Liege and Namur, or the 
retreat from Antwerp, have seen their military career de- 
stroyed and now chafe under their inability to bear arms; 
those guardians of our rights and our commercial freedom, 
who, by their bravery, have been reduced to inactivity? 
There is courage in leaping to the attack; there is no less 
in holding back from it ; there is even more virtue at times 
in suffering than in action. And these two years of the 
Belgian people's calm submission to the inevitable, this en- 
during tenacity which made a humble woman, before whom 
the possibilities of an early peace were discussed, to exclaim : 
'Oh! for us there is no haste; we can still wait.' How 
beautiful and full of instruction for the coming generations ! 
This is what we must consider, my brethren, namely, the 
magnanimity of the nation in sacrifice, our universal and 
persevering brotherhood in afflictions, in mourning and in 
the same invincible hope; that is what we must bear in mind 
in order to estimate our Belgian fatherland at its true 
worth. 

"Now, the first authors of this moral greatness are our 
soldiers. 

"While waiting until they return, when grateful Bel- 



ADDRESS AT STE. GUDULE 237 

gium will acclaim the living and crown the memory of the 
fallen, let us raise up in our souls an imperishable monu- 
ment of religious gratitude. Let us pray for those who are 
no more and exclude no one from our compassion. 

"The blood of Christ has flown for all. It is probable 
that they are expiating in purgatory the last traces of human 
frailty. It belongs to you to hasten their entrance into 
paradise. Succor the distress of the poor man who is 
known to you, of the poor man who is bashful. Give your 
superfluity to those who lack the needful. Assist at the 
mass which is celebrated each week in your parish church 
for our departed soldiers, take with you your children, get 
them to communicate and communicate with them. 

"Pray also for those who stand ever in the line of fire! 
At the moment I am speaking to you, say to yourselves: 
Some are now in their agony, the vision of eternity has 
risen up before them. Let us think of them and obtain for 
them a holy death. 

" 'Our soldiers are our masters,' wrote recently a French 
academician ; 'they are our teachers, our leaders, our judges, 
our supporters, our true friends ; let us be worthy of them 
and imitate them. To induce us not to do less than our 
duty, they are invariably disposed to do more than theirs.' 

"The hour of our deliverance draws near, but has not 
yet struck. Let us remain patient. Let not our courage 
falter. Let us leave to divine Providence the care of per- 
fecting our national education. 

"Young women and young girls, let me ask if you re- 
gard with sufficient gravity the present hour. Pray, do not 
show yourselves strangers to your country's mourning; there 
are fashions and attitudes insulting to sorrow. Modesty is 
for you a halo and a virtue ; it is, moreover, today a patriotic 
duty. You also should think of the privations and endur- 
ance of our soldiers. 

"Let our minds be permeated with the great law of the 
austerity of life. 'How much ought we not,' continues the 
patriot I have just quoted, 'how much ought we not, in the 
relatively easy conditions and in the less exposed regions 
which are ours and which do not merit the name of war 



238 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

zone, to apply our efforts to practice self-restraint, to be 
more simple in our life and ways, and, like our soldiers, but 
in our own way, to brace ourselves up to exercise more 
effective energy? Let us not squander a moment of our 
lives in amusement or relaxation. Let us not spend a 
minute of our lives, save for the splendid gain for which 
our brothers sacrifice so lovingly their own.' 

"And just as at the front our heroes offer us the mar- 
velous and consoling spectacle of an inseparable union, of a 
military brotherhood which nothing can impair; thus in our 
ranks, less serried and with a more elastic discipline, we 
shall aim, none the less, at preserving the same cohesion, 
the same patriotic concord. We shall respect the truce im- 
posed on our disputes by the great cause which alone should 
employ and absorb all our means of attack and fighting; 
and if wicked and wretched men do not understand the 
urgency or the beauty of this national harmony and still 
determine in spite of everything to foment the passions 
which at other times divide us, we will turn away and con- 
tinue, without deigning to reply, to remain faithful to the 
pact of union, friendship, loyal and sincere confidence, which, 
in spite of them, we have made with them, under the grand 
inspiration of the war. 

"The approaching date of the first centenary of our in- 
dependence should find us stronger, more courageous, more 
united than ever. Let us prepare for it by work, by pa- 
tience, by brotherhood. When in 1930 we remember the 
dark years of 19 14-19 16, they will appear to us brighter, 
more majestic and, provided today we know how to make 
up our mind, they will prove the happiest and most fruitful 
of our national history. 'Per crucem ad lucem.' Light 
springs from sacrifice." 

At the end of the service the organ played the "Braban- 
conne." Up to that point the congregation, obedient to the 
recommendations of the Cardinal, had restrained their emo- 
tion, but scarcely had the last note of the national hymn 
died away than spontaneously a cry burst forth from every 
breast: "Long live Belgium! Long live the King!" 

At the termination of the ceremony the Cardinal, ac- 



ADDRESS AT STE. GUDULE 239 

cording to custom, was conducted processionally to the 
deanery situated close to the church. The crowd pressed 
up to the door of the sacristy and met him with the cry: 
"Long live the Cardinal! Long live liberty!" 

In the evening about 8 o'clock passers-by recognized 
the Cardinal's motorcar waiting at the gate of St. Louis's 
Institute. A crowd at once collected and the instant the 
Cardinal entered his carriage to return to Malines he was 
acclaimed with enthusiastic shouts by a crowd that every 
moment grew denser. A German officer appeared on the 
scene, accompanied by a detachment of soldiers, and brutally 
ordered a bayonet charge and several persons were 
wounded. The Cardinal's motorcar rapidly disappeared in 
the direction of Malines. The following day Lieutenant 
General Hurt sent a letter to the Burgomaster of Brussels 
from which we extract the following passages :* 

"When the Cardinal in the evening passed through the 
city in his motorcar, a demonstration hostile to the German 
authorities took place of such a nature as to rouse the popu- 
lation to resistance and ill-considered acts. You must agree, 
sir, that no occupying power in the world could tamely sub- 
mit to such provocation. 

"In consequence I have suggested to the Governor Gen- 
eral that he should inflict a fine upon the entire population 
of Brussels. The Governor General has agreed to my pro- 
posal and has inflicted a fine of a million marks." 

The incidents that marked that day, July 24th, occa- 
sioned an exchange of letters between his Eminence and the 
Governor General. 

Government General of Belgium, Brussels, 

July 24th, 19 1 6. 
To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of 
Malines. 
Throughout the country generally July 24th passed 
without incident. It was only at Brussels that a demonstra- 
tion took place incompatible with the regime of occupa- 
tion. 

* Note — This letter was published by the censored press. The above text 
is taken from "La Belgique" of July 24. 



240 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

This demonstration started with your Eminence your- 
self. The reports which have reached me inform me that 
during the address you delivered at St. Gudule's you ex- 
pressed yourself as follows: "The hour of deliverance 
draws near, but has not yet struck. He who bears the re- 
sponsibility of this frightful war should receive its deserts. 
He that let loose this storm upon Belgium must be pun- 
ished. 

"My dear brethren, pray for the martyrs of liberty, 
remain firm and unshaken in your hope, your deliverance 
is at hand. 

"A curate of our diocese has been sentenced to twelve 
years' penal servitude, a nun in our holy church to six years' 
imprisonment. Pray for these martyrs who languish in a 
prison cell for having served their king and country. 

"1830 ... an historic date, when the people of Bel- 
gium wrung their liberty from their oppressors . . . after 
fourteen years and a few days all the churches of Belgium 
will resound with the Belgian people's shouts of joy and 
gladness." 

Before coming to a decision respecting this incident, I 
pray your Eminence to vouchsafe me, as early as possible, 
an explanation of this affair and inform me if the extracts 
quoted above reproduce exactly the words uttered by you. 
Misunderstandings have been caused in similar cases. Ac- 
cordingly, I deem it important for your Eminence to com- 
municate to me this part of your address. It would interest 
me especially to learn if your Eminence spoke with such 
certainty of the approaching hour of deliverance. 

If this is so, you will kindly inform me of the grounds 
on which you base your assertions. Because of the impor- 
tance which I attach to this fact, I should be grateful to 
your Eminence if you would give me a detailed account. 

This incident dispenses me from answering your 
esteemed letter of the 12th inst. As I cannot admit the 
view there expressed, even if purely theoretical, I have re- 
quested the chief of my political department to reply to your 
Eminence. 



ADDRESS AT STE. GUDULE 241 

I present to your Eminence the expression of my sincere 
esteem. 

(Signed) Baron von Bissing, 

Lieutenant General. 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 
July 2$th, 19 16. 
To His Excellency Baron von Bissing, Governor General 
of Belgium. 

I am making it a duty to reply by return of post, as 
your Excellency desired in the letter No. 6713, you did me 
the honor to address to me on July 24th and which I re- 
ceived this morning. It is fortunate that your Excellency 
had the good inspiration to submit to me the report made 
to you of the discourse which I preached at St. Gudule on 
the 2 1 st inst. Nothing is more fitting than that I should 
go straight to the point. This method, had it been always 
followed, would have spared us in the past the misunder- 
standings, the recurrence of which we are today both 
equally anxious to prevent. 

Desirous of removing, as adequately as may be, your 
Excellency's anxiety, I will give in parallel columns the 
charges made against me in your report and the text of my 
sermon. 

This report, containing twenty-four lines within quota- 
tion marks, puts into my mouth nine propositions. Of these 
nine, four are absolute fiction, one reproduces faithfully a 
line of my discourse, the remaining four were indeed spoken 
by me, but neither in the sense nor in the context given in 
the report. 

1. My dear brethren, pray 1. I have nowhere spoken 
for the martyrs of liberty, of the martyrs of liberty, 
remain firm and unshaken in 

your hope; deliverance is at 
hand. 

2. A nun of Holy Church 2. I have nowhere men- 
has been sentenced to six tioned a nun, or our Holy 
years' imprisonment. Church, or any woman sen- 
tenced. 



242 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 



3. Pray for the martyrs 
who languish in a prison cell 
for having served their king 
and country. 



4. 1830 ... a historic 
date, when the Belgian peo- 
ple wrung their freedom 
from their oppressors. . . . 
king and queen 
be carried in 



Our brave 
. . . will 
triumph. 



5. A curate of our dio- 
cese has been sentenced to 
twelve years' penal servi- 
tude. 



3. I have nowhere spoken 
of martyrs, or of prisoners 
languishing in prison for 
having served their king and 
country. 

4. I have nowhere spoken 
of the king and queen or the 
royal princes who would be 
carried in triumph through 
the ranks of the heroic Bel- 
gian army. 



5. This text is correct. I 
said, in fact: "A curate of 
the capital has just been sen- 
tenced to twelve years' penal 
servitude." 



6. The hour of deliver- 
ance is near, but has not yet 
struck. 



Your Excellency does me 
the honor of putting to me 
the following question: "I 
should be very interested to 
know if it is a fact that your 
Eminence has spoken with 
such certainty of the ap- 
proaching hour of the liber- 
ation of Belgium. If so, 
would you be good enough 
to inform me what are the 
grounds on which this state- 
ment is based. 



6. This I said. In fact, I 
said: "The hour of deliver- 
ance draws near, but has not 
yet struck." 

I keenly regret that I can- 
not fix more precisely the 
date of our deliverance, and 
I suspect that if the Gover- 
nor General gave me access 
to my King, or allowed me to 
visit Joffre, or Robertson, 
Von Falkenhayn or Von 
Hindenburg, we should not 
learn much more. Hence, 
after the phrase with which 
you find fault, I added im- 
mediately: "Let us continue 
to be patient and not allow 



ADDRESS AT STE. GUDULE 



243 



our courage to falter. Let 
us leave to Providence the 
care of completing our na- 
tional education." I ex- 
horted my hearers "to en- 
durance and to patience," 
and I mentioned the exam- 
ple of "a poor woman who, 
hearing the possibility of an 
early peace discussed, said: 
'Oh, for us there is no hurry; 
we can still wait.' " 



7-8. He who bears the re- 
sponsibility of this frightful 
war ought to receive his 
deserts. 

He that has let loose this 
catastrophe on poor Bel- 
gium should be punished. 



7-8. I did not speak 
specifically either of the per- 
son who let loose the scourge 
of actual war or the authors 
of the catastrophe with 
which Belgium has been vis- 
ited. I translated into 
French the teaching of the 
great theologian, St. Thom- 
as Aquinas. I expounded 
principles the application of 
which each one must make 
for himself. This theolog- 
ical doctrine formulates the 
necessary claims of recog- 
nized justice. The author of 
the report only heard that 
and he has distorted it; but 
it enunciates the prohibition 
of hatred and the law of uni- 
versal brotherhood. Thus I 
said: "Our lips purified by 
the fire of Christian charity 
do not give utterance to 
words of hatred. To hate is 
to make another's misfor- 



244 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

tune our object and to gloat 
over it. Whatever be our 
sorrows, we do not enter- 
tain hatred toward those 
who inflicted them. Nation- 
al concord among us co- 
exists with universal broth- 
erhood, but higher than the 
sentiment of universal broth- 
erhood we place respect for 
absolute right, without which 
there can be no possible in- 
tercourse either among indi- 
viduals or nations. 



9. In fourteen years and 
some days all the churches 
of Belgium will vibrate with 
shouts of "Hoch," cries of 
joy will be raised by the 
whole Belgian population. 



9. I have not made any 
church in Belgium vibrate 
with sounds of cheering — 
neither have I spoken of 
"Hochs," nor of cries of joy, 
but of a triumphal Te Deum. 
Even so, these are only tri- 
fling variations of style. But 
the report is captious when 
you translate the words in 
fourteen years on such a day 
by "in fourteen years and 
some days." This last 
touch proves how needful it 
is to mistrust spies who un- 
derstand imperfectly the lan- 
guage in which our preach- 
ers express themselves, and 
with the hope of profitably 
flattering German patriot- 
ism, use every expedient to 
catch or put in default the 
honest folk on whom they 
spy. 



ADDRESS AT STE. GUDULE 245 

In a word, sir, about half the report is fiction. Of the 
rest scarcely a fifth part is correct. The other four-fifths 
mutilates the meaning and changes the order of my 
thoughts. 

Furthermore, I hold at your Excellency's disposition, if 
you wish to see it, the complete text of my sermon as it 
was read (for I took the precaution of writing and reading 
it) from the pulpit of St. Gudule. 

Your Excellency is pleased to attribute to me a demon- 
stration incompatible with the conditions of occupation. 
Much might be said about this demonstration, which con- 
sisted of certain shouts of joy and gratitude, with which the 
Belgian authorities were received, but the hour is not yet 
come to express on this subject all I have in my mind. 

I reject the insinuation implied in this phrase, taken 
from your manifesto dated July 22d: "In the evening Car- 
dinal Mercier motored through the city." I invite your 
Excellency to compare your accusation of: "Diese Kundge- 
bung ist von Eurer Eminenz selbst ausgegangen" — "This 
demonstration originated with your Eminence himself," — 
with the repeated declarations of Lieutenant General Hurt, 
Governor of Brussels and Brabant: "My prohibition to 
celebrate the national festival has induced a small number 
of thoughtless persons to invite the public to disobey my 
order. I put the inhabitants formally on their guard against 
instigations to effect this object." (Notice dated July 20th, 
19 1 6.) "The reckless portion of the population has invited 
the public, by a liberal distribution of handbills, not to obey 
my orders." (Notice under date July 22d, 19 16.) 
(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

Brussels, July 2$th, 191 6. 
Political Department of the Government General of Bel- 
gium. 
The Governor General commissions me to convey his 
thanks to your Eminence in reply to your esteemed letter of 
the 25th inst. for the care and the promptness which you 
took to clear up all misunderstandings. The Governor Gen- 



246 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

eral recognizes with pleasure that your Eminence had no 
intention to add to the agitation discernible among the Bel- 
gian population. 

Nevertheless, his Excellency must protest against your 
Eminence's insinuation that the reports of the sermon 
preached at St. Gudule are the handiwork of spies. Not 
cne of these reports comes from any one in our service. 
All come from believing Catholics, who had noted with 
painful surprise the impression it made on the audience. 
Even Belgians disapproved of your Eminence's words, for 
they said they must undoubtedly have excited men's minds 
and exercised an influence on their conduct outside the 
church. 

Without doubt your Eminence wishes now to foster the 
belief that the words which you employed have been mis- 
understood. But simple people noticed in a special manner 
such phrases as "The hour of deliverance approaches, but 
has not yet struck." In spite of all the subtle qualifications 
with which your Eminence enveloped them, these phrases 
stick in the memory. The fact that the words spoken by 
your Eminence have been misconstrued is at any rate a 
proof that you did not clearly take into account the possible 
effect of your discourse. 

In spite of all your good intentions, your Eminence 
hinders people from forming a true idea of the actual 
situation. Your Eminence wrote that not one of the com- 
manders-in-chief of the armies in the field could predict the 
end of hostilities. Accordingly, the Governor General is at 
a loss to understand how your Eminence can on your own 
account foretell the issue of the war. In any case, the Gov- 
ernor General earnestly entreats your Eminence to be on 
your guard for the future and to avoid all misunderstand- 
ings and for this purpose to refrain from uttering in public 
statements liable to mislead the people. Your Eminence 
has declared over and over again that you knew quite well 
the temper of the Belgian people, but you must not lose 
sight of the fact that declarations made by an orator easily 
and very often produce effects quite opposite to those in- 
tended. 



ADDRESS AT STE. GUDULE 247 

In conclusion I should like to rectify a mistake made by 
your Eminence. In his letter of July 24th the Governor 
General says: "This demonstration began with your Emi- 
nence." The words "this demonstration" referred solely 
to the sermon preached at St. Gudule. The Governor Gen- 
eral had no intention of discussing with your Eminence the 
incidents which took place during the evening. These have 
already been examined by another authority. Hence the 
consequences which your Eminence deduces from this mis- 
understanding fall to the ground. 

I shall shortly have the honor of answering in detail the 
letter which your Eminence has addressed to the Governor 
General dated July 12th, and shall have an opportunity 
also of touching on another question, which, because of the 
agitation that it constantly keeps alive among the Belgian 
people, calls for a definitive solution. 

Please accept the expression of my sincere esteem. 

(Signed) Lancken. 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 

July 30th, 1 91 6. 
To His Excellency Baron von Bissing, Governor General, 
Brussels. 

I have the honor of acknowledging the receipt of your 
Excellency's letter No. 6827, which you commissioned 
Baron von der Lancken to write in your name. 

In its general purport it recognizes — and I am glad of 
it — that my discourse of July 21st had been wrongly de- 
nounced. The report made to your Excellency was incor- 
rect, and thus the fundamental misunderstanding is re- 
moved. 

Yet, on two points of detail, the author of the letter de- 
clares that he is not satisfied. He finds that I have assumed 
the role of prophet because I have said, "The house of de- 
liverance draws nigh." Next, that I falsely boast of know- 
ing the temper of the Belgian people; the demonstration of 
the 2 1 st proves me lacking in foresight. 

But I did not say, "The hour of deliverance draws 
nigh" but, "The hour of deliverance draws nigh, but has not 



248 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

struck. Let us persevere in patience. Do not let our cour- 
age falter. Let us commit to Divine Providence the care of 
perfecting our national education." The first clause taken 
by itself is as vague as its meaning is clear when read 
joined to its context. This proves once more that any two 
lines taken from an author are enough to hang him. 

Imagine you nave before you a prisoner sentenced to a 
year's imprisonment. After eight months of durance you 
say to him, "Courage, my friend, the hour of deliverance 
draws nigh." Do you think he does not understand? The 
prisoner is Belgium — she, too, understands. 

But, you say, if she understands, how is it that she 
revolts despite your discourse, which you pretend to be 
soothing and comforting words? Either your words are 
not soothing or you do not understand the Belgian men- 
tality. 

First of all, I reply: Is this real or apparent agitation 
the direct effect of my sermon? Did you not acknowledge 
that on the 20th — that is before my sermon of the 21st was 
preached — signs of this agitation were already visible ? If 
instead of threatening with six months' imprisonment or a 
fine of 20,000 marks any one laying a flower at the foot 
of a national monument, or being so bold as to close their 
cafe or shop on Independence Day, you had shown defer- 
ence, even only by silence, to our national feelings, the 
people would not have been driven to defiance. 

This is what I hinted at when I concluded my letter 
on the 25th with these words, which, out of respect for my 
correspondent, I left somewhat vague: "I did but utter 
words of charity and comfort; provocation must be sought 
elsewhere." 

What is gravest in the eyes of the occupying power 
in the demonstration of the 21st is evidently the incident 
that took place, "in the evening when the Cardinal passed 
through the streets in his motorcar," it being understood 
that this demonstration brought about the sentence of con- 
demnation pronounced by the Governor of Brussels and 
Brabant: "Therefore I have suggested to the Governor 
General that he should inflict a fine on the entire popula- 



ADDRESS AT STE. GUDULE 249 

tion of Brussels. The Governor General has agreed to my 
suggestion and inflicted a fine of a million marks." 

What was the extent of this demonstration, of which I 
can speak with knowledge, having myself been a witness 
of the event? The drive which the German Governor of 
Brussels and Brabant describes me as making in a motorcar 
through the streets of the city was one of a good hundred 
yards, namely from St. Louis's Institute to the point on the 
boulevard immediately opposite Rue de Brabant. 

I took my place as quietly as possible in a closed car, 
the windows of which were hermetically shut. A few per- 
sons accompanied me on this short journey and cheered but 
without uttering a single sound that could give offense to 
the German authorities. The police, who had allowed the 
people to assemble freely near St. Louis's Institute, then or- 
dered quite unnecessarily a bayonet charge while my car was 
taking the most direct route toward M alines — that is Rue 
de Brabant. Once the hundred yards of the boulevard were 
passed nobody at all followed my car. These are the facts 
in all their simplicity. 

Frankly, is there here matter for a fine of a million 
two hundred and fifty thousand francs? Moreover, since 
your Excellency is quite willing to say that my sermon at 
St. Gudule was not seditious, would it not be consistent 
and just to remit a punishment which was justified in the 
eyes of the occupying power only by this alleged act of 
sedition? 

Receive, sir, the assurance of my sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

For his part, the pro-burgomaster of Brussels, M. Le- 
monnier, in the name of the communal administration of the 
whole of Brussels, addressed a request to the Governor 
General to revise his decision. Baron von Bissing remained 
inflexible and the penalty was exacted. 



CHAPTER XXVII 

THE RIGHTS OF THE OCCUPYING POWER 

In his letter of June 28th, 19 16, Baron von Bissing 
had explained what he considered to be his role as Governor 
General and subsequently had laid down certain principles 
as to the position of the occupying power. The Cardinal 
had answered defending the theory which he had upheld 
in his first letter to the Governor General and which he had 
laid before his people in his pastoral, "Patriotism and En- 
durance": "The occupying power is not a lawful power; 
it is a power de facto; the only power de jure in Belgium is 
that of the King and his Government." 

The Governor General never returned to the charge. 
It was Baron von der Lancken who resumed the discussion. 
The controversy between the Cardinal and the chief of the 
Political Department respecting the rights of the occupying 
power called forth an exchange of long letters, having the 
form of pamphlets at once political and philosophical. 

Political Department of the Governor General of Belgium, 

Brussels, August 1st, 19 16. 
To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of Malines. 

In your letter addressed to the Governor General dated 
July 1 2th, your Eminence made several reflections on prin- 
ciples respecting the right of occupation. I have the honor 
to make the following observations to your Eminence on 
this subject. 

First, I would have you take notice that it is only an 
exchange of theoretical views. Your Eminence expresses 
ideas which go far beyond the purely juridical scope of the 
Hague Convention. The text of the Hague Convention 
to which the force of an international contract has been 

250 



RIGHTS OF OCCUPYING POWER 251 

given (the question, in so far as it concerns us now, is 
chiefly treated in Chapter IV) contains not a single word 
relative to the question touched upon by your Eminence. 

On the other hand, the positive provisions laid down in 
regard to occupation in this chapter are clear and precise. 
The exchange of views between your Eminence and myself 
leads us therefore into a research, which would have more 
than anything the character of a study preparatory to a fu- 
ture Hague Conference. As regards myself personally, I 
eagerly embrace this opportunity of expounding my views on 
this subject. 

In the first place, I recognize that the Hague Conference 
contains serious gaps. From the standpoint of occupation 
it expressly defines the duties of the occupying power, but it 
is silent regarding the duties of the population of the occu- 
pied territory. In the case of a prolonged occupation, these 
provisions are inadequate, for the population should not 
be content calmly to await the decision of arms ; it should 
also take part in the work of administration, undertaken 
chiefly in its interest by the occupying power. Your Emi- 
nence will grant me that some positive provisions of this 
kind, inserted in the Hague Convention, would have assisted 
the population to triumph over many scruples. At the same 
time, I only give this as my personal opinion. 

I come now to the letter of July 12th last. Your Emi- 
nence there puts forth once more the view that the occupy- 
ing power has no legitimate rights, but only power de facto. 
I should like to remind your Eminence of the provisions of 
articles 42 and 43 of Chapter IV. There the transfer 
of power de facto to the occupant is quite "legitimate." 
According to an international contract, which is in keeping 
with all the rules and has been ratified by the contracting 
parties, this transfer flows automatically from an actual state 
of occupation. It appears to me that your Eminence in your 
character of moralist and philosopher, in making use of 
the expression de jure, conceived an idea which the jurists 
of the Hague purposely set aside. For a division of legis- 
lative power is impossible and therefore what is de facto 
must be also de jure. What, after all, really matters is 



252 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

merely the exercise of legislative authority and its docile 
acceptance by the population. 

Let your Eminence then imagine what would happen 
if the Belgian people received at the same time contra- 
dictory orders from its former Government on the one 
hand, and from the occupying power on the other. On this 
point your Eminence does not agree with the Havre Gov- 
ernment. 

Thus, for instance, in the question of military service, 
the Belgian Government recognizes the lawfulness of the 
German regulations forbidding the crossing of the frontier. 
The new military laws which it has promulgated are en- 
forceable only on Belgians living abroad. They do not men- 
tion Belgians living in the occupied territory; therefore they 
exclude them from the operations of the laws, and neither 
consider them blameworthy nor bad patriots. 

In distinguishing power de jure and power de facto, in 
upholding the existence of a special lawful authority, your 
Eminence appears to me to fall into the same mistake with 
which, from a purely philosophical standpoint, you reproach 
Kant. Your Eminence, in a word, separates morality and 
right. 

We may consider the occupation as a provisional state. 
It is nevertheless a juridical state, the consequences of which 
must be borne by all who are subject thereto. Of course 
each one has also the right to enter a protest against even- 
tual infringements of the Hague Convention. 

May I remind your Eminence that the Belgian courts 
of law in every appeal have been engaged in the question 
whether or no the German decrees were in conformity with 
the Hague Convention? It is therefore useless to require 
for that act of theirs a special lawful authority. This in 
practice has the inconvenience of appearing as a purely 
moral authority above the law in vigor of, and therefore in 
opposition to, the Hague Convention, which is the only 
source of right in this matter. Thus in your first Pastoral, 
your Eminence gave in truth an instruction which tended to 
obstruct the work of organization of the occupying power, 
by holding back the population from taking part therein. 



RIGHTS OF OCCUPYING POWER 253 

As to myself I consider that this way of acting entails 
important consequences. When for instance the occupation 
is protracted, it may become more dangerous than a direct 
violation of public order, which should be repelled by armed 
force. The population chiefly is interested in the smooth 
working of affairs and each citizen should consider it his 
duty to co-operate therein, just as public servants do by con- 
tinuing to serve their country in the exercise of their func- 
tions under the direction of the German authorities. 

In this connection, I might recall the conduct of many 
ecclesiastics of which the Governor General complained in 
his letter to the Bishops. I should like your Eminence to 
draw a clear distinction between patriotism and the stirring 
up of the people against the occupying power. Would your 
Eminence defend the spreading of writings insulting to Ger- 
many or indeed approve of sermons in which our army is 
held up to scorn? 

We have had the recent case of a priest who, though 
not a Belgian, was prosecuted for an offence of this nature. 
To my way of thinking a loyal patriot in the occupied ter- 
ritory should hold aloof from every demonstration. He 
would thus enjoy everybody's esteem and his attitude would 
be thus quite compatible with a docile acceptance of the 
regime of occupation. 

The Governor General, acting in harmony with the ec- 
clesiastical authorities, endeavored to shield priests from 
conviction. On that occasion your Eminence expressed to 
him your gratitude. The reasons for which, in order to 
hinder these abuses, the Governor General gave up having 
recourse to ecclesiastical discipline have been stated to 
your Eminence by him personally. 

But it can never be feasible, according to the views ex- 
pressed by your Eminence in your letter of June 23rd, to 
subject ecclesiastics accused of any offence to a special form 
of jurisdiction. 

Nor can it be a question of enforcing in their regard the 
Belgian criminal legislation. Your Eminence here falls 
into some confusion. The penal Belgian laws are made for 
the Belgian State and it is in accordance with these laws 



254 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

that judgments are delivered in the Belgian courts of justice. 
The occupying power protects its own interests by means 
of its own regulations and penal laws. This is also the 
case when a foreign territory is occupied, as, for instance, 
Greece. Your Eminence will admit that a state in occupa- 
tion cannot be content with the less severe laws prevailing in 
peace time. 

Your Eminence finds inexact the phrase "an unendurable 
situation" (unhaltbare Zustande). The reason for this is 
that if trivial misdemeanors were tolerated, political agita- 
tion would quickly assume such proportions that it could not 
be kept under, save by measures of extraordinary severity. 
And this is the case when exaggerated demonstrations of 
patriotism take place from the pulpit. Your Eminence, be- 
ing a learned psychologist, will not deny that it is violently 
inconsistent to rouse the feelings of an audience and then 
to ask it to remain perfectly calm. If men continue to rouse 
patriotic feelings an "unendurable situation" will be brought 
about, which, in the interest of the general public, we must 
avoid. 

I take advantage of this opportunity to draw your Emi- 
nence's attention to what continually happens in the Grotto 
of Lourdes at Laeken. I believe that if you would give 
these priests a general warning to confine themselves to 
their religious ministry, you would put an end to a movement 
which, if it grew, would necessitate the intervention of the 
German authorities. 

I know well that your Eminence in your Pastoral entitled 
"Patriotism and Endurance" declared after St. Thomas 
Aquinas that patriotism is a Christian virtue. You hold 
therefore that it should be upheld in the churches. But it is 
needful that this should be done in a just measure, I would 
willingly say in a liturgical measure, and no one should 
transform a demonstration of patriotism into a violent po- 
litical outburst, little in keeping with divine worship. 

Your Eminence will permit me to recall here the words 
which you uttered before the representatives of the civil 
power, at the moment when you took possession of your high 
ecclesiastical office: "We shall not interfere in politics. 



RIGHTS OF OCCUPYING POWER 255 

The day that any one of us should forget the respect due to 
civil power enjoying legal independence, remind him, M. 
Minister, of this word which is sacred to us, because it 
fell from the divine lips of Christ: 'Render to God the 
things that are God's and to Cassar the things that are 
Cesar's.' " 

Your Eminence at the end of your letter speaks of the 
influence of Kant. I do not feel called upon to begin a 
scientific discussion with a philosopher of such great repute. 
I must nevertheless remark that your Eminence does Kant 
an injustice when you declare that he has distorted the notion 
of right in the mind of the German people. His chief moral 
principle was this: "Act in such a wise that the maxim 
of thy will may serve at the same time as a principle of 
general legislation." 

It is in this that we must seek the German conception 
of duty, of right and liberty, independently of all theory 
of knowledge. While admitting that Kant's philosophy is 
theoretically dangerous, it would be necessary to prove that 
it has penetrated into the minds of the German people. I 
here again permit myself to appeal to your Eminence's tes- 
timony. In a controversy with the Belgian atheists you 
pointed out that the great Protestant nations of Germany 
and the United States make it their glory to proclaim offi- 
cially the sovereign rights of God over humanity. 

I have done my best to follow step by step the allega- 
tions of your Eminence and I should be pleased to feel that 
I had thus contributed to remove misunderstandings. 

I present to your Eminence the expression of my sincere 
esteem and have the honor to be 

Yours sincerely, 

Lancken. 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 
August i6th, 1916. 
To the Baron von der Lancken, Chief of the Political De- 
partment of the General Government, Brussels. 
Dear Baron — The letter J. N. 6766, with which you 
honor me at the request and on behalf of His Excellency 



256 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

Baron von Bissing, insists on certain general questions previ- 
ously raised in the despatch of the Governor General under 
date of the twenty-eighth of June and on which I have in a 
letter of July 12 already delivered my opinion. 

Your letter dated August 1st opens with a preliminary 
summary on the "gaps" in the Hague convention which, 
as you say, while defining the duties of the occupying power, 
does not specify those of the occupied country. 

The main part of the letter comprises two sections, one 
treating of the occupying power, the other of patriotism 
and its display. 

In conclusion you break a lance in favor of the moral 
teaching of Kant and the religious spirit of the Germans. 

A few lines here will suffice to dispose of both the con- 
cluding portion of your letter as also its main section, stig- 
matizing once more the patriotism at once so calm and so 
patient of the Belgian people. 

Clearly it is the first of these two subjects you deem the 
more interesting and on which consequently you dwell with 
greater zest. 

In your view, by condemning the severance of law 
from morality, as effected by his philosophy, I have misrep- 
resented Kant and his influence over the minds of your coun- 
trymen. You remind me, in this connection, of the funda- 
mental precept of Kantian ethics and are of opinion 
that therein, independently of any theory about the source of 
knowledge, must be sought the "German Ideal" of duty, law 
and freedom. 

Believe me, my dear Baron, it was far from my mind 
to deny the existence of ethical teaching — of a high, nay an 
excessively high character — in the Kantian Philosophy. I 
plainly asumed that in this philosophy there were two terms, 
viz., "right and morality," inasmuch as I find fault with 
Kant for having sundered them. 

You are pleased to ignore this separation and to declare 
that "the German idea of things" subordinates legal matters 
to a precept of morality. So much the better for you and 
those who think as you do ! It proves that nature is often 
worth more than systems of philosophy. But bear in mind 



RIGHTS OF OCCUPYING POWER 257 

that when you separate yourself from Kant's separatist 
theory, you implicitly own that I was right when I found 
fault with him. 

Not everyone, unluckily, can so readily and lightly 
shake himself free from any false theories he may have 
cherished. 

These violent distinctions which Kant draws between 
"right" and "morality"; between morality as the object 
of a wholly subjective faith, and the objective knowledge 
of morality; between science, as the object of hurried re- 
flection, and metaphysics, as the object of a more prolonged 
and penetrating reflection — these violent sunderings, I re- 
peat, break up the unity of the inner man, shake the firmness 
of moral consciousness, and, as a result, favor selfish com- 
promises, and, at time of great crisis, even surrender of prin- 
ciples. 

How otherwise can we explain the disconcerting spec- 
tacle of a great and noble nation, which, forgetful of its 
pledges, its political aims, even of its deepest convictions, 
those, namely, of the Christian and Catholic faith, witnesses 
without protests, nay, I should say with cheerfulness, an out- 
rage — a public, iniquitous, sacrilegious outrage — which a 
mighty empire avows itself ready to commit, with full knowl- 
edge of its deed, on a friendly, innocent and disarmed state? 

I can see only one solution to this riddle. A mental at- 
mosphere has been produced in Germany, in which legal 
matters are divorced from moral right. Kant, Hegel, 
Nietzsche have spread this through all ranks of society. In 
this atmosphere a militarist idea of things has been formed, 
has grown, has gathered strength, according to which the 
nation has a right to live and to develop its life to any ex- 
tent, without being answerable for its doings before that 
moral tribunal of conscience which judges our every-day 
actions. Imperceptibly, armed force has ceased to seem 
what in truth it is — the safeguard of a right based on duty — 
and has become, according to public opinion, an end in itself, 
an end which bears its own absolute value, set outside of and 
above current moral principles, justifying at the same time 
all sacrifices and all outrages capable of bearing fruit. 



258 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

The Grand Chancellor of the Empire had become im- 
bued with these ideas — corollaries of the initial conception 
of a public right different from private right — to such an 
extent as to dare to offer Belgium a bargain of which a 
felony would have been the reward. 

You remind me, Baron, that I have not always judged 
Germany so severely, for I formerly held it up as an exam- 
ple to those among ourselves who blushed to utter the thrice- 
holy name of God in public in our legislative assemblies. 
To these slaves to human respect I said in fact: "Look at 
the great Protestant nations, Germany and the United 
States, who glory in officially proclaiming the sovereign 
rights of God towards mankind, and on a pre-announced 
day offer to Divine Providence the solemn tribute of their 
thanksgivings." 

I did say this, nay, and I will say it again. 

But if our public men have sometimes sinned by defect, 
others may sin by excess. The Gospel says it is not enough 
to cry "Lord, Lord!" to enter into the kingdom of heaven. 
Religion degenerates into superstition when it does not per- 
meate our consciences, and morality misses its mark, par- 
tially at least, when it does not stretch its dominion over all 
actions, social as much as individual ones, of the human 
personality. 

I have read and re-read the second part of your letter, 
but I dare not flatter myself that I have wholly grasped its 
shades of meaning. 

To most of the considerations which you there put for- 
ward, I could willingly answer : Yes and no : yes, we are 
in agreement, in one sense; but in another sense, we are by 
no means so. 

I have not demanded any specially favorable treatment 
for our ecclesiastics : but, remembering that the Hague con- 
vention (Art. 43) makes it the duty of the occupying power 
"to respect, unless absolutely unable to do so, the laws in 
force in the occupied country," I have put the freedom of 
preaching under the protection of the Belgian Constitution, 
and consequently I have also put it under the shelter of in- 
ternational law. 



RIGHTS OF OCCUPYING POWER 259 

I do not confuse patriotism with incitement to revolt 
any more than you, Baron. With you I recognize that 
heated words do not, as a rule, leave the hearers unaffected, 
but the thing which matters is to know the object of such 
heated words, and what kind of sentiments they are likely 
to give birth to and to nourish in the hearts of the hearers. 

To preach rebellion against necessary arrests, to drive 
suffering hearts to despair, or even simply to allow them to 
renounce all hope, is a bad thing. To warmly urge on them 
endurance, dignity, confidence, is a great thing. 

Like all the moral virtues, patriotism keeps mid-way 
between excess and defect. To go beyond one's measure 
is an evil ; to stop short of it is also an evil. The sole ques- 
tion to be defined is then to know at what moment encour- 
agement to "devotion to one's country" runs to excess, be- 
comes blameworthy and dangerous. 

It is impossible to contain in one single formula all things 
appropriate to the coming time. Hence I have offered the 
Governor General my help in examining into these special 
cases where, according to him, the clergy have misused their 
ministry of the word. I seize the opportunity to thank 
you for having called my attention to sermons which are 
preached at the Grotto of Lourdes ; I will not fail to enquire 
into this subject. 

You fear, Baron, lest we should unduly enlarge the idea 
of a lawful patriotism, but are you not yourself inclined to 
restrict it unduly? 

You seem practically to identify the ministry of the 
priesthood with public worship. But we hold that religion, 
and the sermons that extol it, ought to take in the whole life, 
and — consequently — ought to rule not only the direct deal- 
ings of the soul with God in the intimacy of the conscience or 
in the expression of solemn prayer, but also the whole of 
our moral conduct, in all its manifold manifestations, both 
private and public. 

New circumstances give rise to new duties. The preacher 
of God's word would fail in his task if he did not under- 
stand that, in the tragic time in which we are, consciences 
cry out for light : must they accept the German occupation, 



2 6o CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

or merely submit to it? must they love or hate the occupier? 

Has an invasion, unjust at the outset, become a lawful 
authority, and — if that be so — how are we to bring due 
respect for the occupier's orders into harmony with loyalty 
to our King? Which is it that comes first, the fact of occu- 
pation or the right? All these questions, and many others 
which are linked with them, cannot be stifled without danger. 
They have a moral, a religious, bearing. The clergy are 
thoroughly within their own province in setting themselves 
to solve these problems. 

You remind me of something I said at a banquet, where 
the national Government and the Belgian Episcopate joined 
hands for the realizing of the motto of our Constitution: 
"Freedom for every one." No intrusion of the civil power 
into the domain of religion, no meddling by the religious 
authorities with political matters. To God the things which 
are God's, to Caesar the things which are Caesar's. 

Alas, times have changed! It would be bold, to say the 
least, — own this — to compare you to a national Govern- 
ment. 

When the relations between the two authorities, secular 
and religious, have been restored to what they were in 1907, 
I shall be delighted to say once more : Let there be agree- 
ment between the two authorities on the basis of our consti- 
tutional liberties. To God the things which are God's, to 
Caesar the things which are Caesar's. 

I come thus to the main object of our correspondence: 
what is the nature of the occupying power, according to the 
principles of international right, as codified by the Hague 
Conventions? You, Baron, hold that that convention 
leaves some gaps, inasmuch as it does not lay down any 
duty for the occupied country. You seem not to have 
grasped that these gaps were left on purpose. 

The law-makers of the Hague Convention had no inten- 
tion of doing philosophical work; they acted and spoke as 
lawyers, as statesmen. 

It is amusing enough — now own it — that you should 
reproach me — most good-naturedly so far as that goes — 
with having read the Hague Convention from the stand- 



RIGHTS OF OCCUPYING POWER 261 

point of a "philosopher" strange to the realities of our 
earthly life ; this reproach falls back straight down upon the 
acute diplomat who propounded it. 

If the authors of the Hague Convention have not as- 
signed to the occupied folk any duties with regard to the 
occupying power, is it not because they were obedient, on 
the whole, to the feeling that there could be no legal duties 
— the only ones which come into the question — without cor- 
responding rights? An occupied country, not having any 
longer rights which it could oblige — by physical force — 
the occupier to respect, has likewise no duties towards the 
same. 

This thought deserves to have light thrown on it, and I 
thank you for giving me the opportunity of studying for a 
moment this interesting problem with you. 

The most approved speakers of the Hague Congress 
said definitely that their aim was, not to give "rights" to 
the occupying power and "duties" to the occupied, but to 
limit the authority of the occupying power. This is what 
M. Rolin, the authorized spokesman of the sub-commission 
No. 2 of the first Hague Conference (1899), said: "It has 
been formally laid down that none of the proposed articles 
can be held as entailing on behalf of those States which 
accept them the recognition of any right whatever which 
might clash with their respective sovereign rights, and that 
the acceptance of these laws implies solely, for each state, 
in that which concerns it, the acceptation of a group of 
legal rules limiting the outward acts of the de facto author- 
ity, which the fortunes of war may put into their hands 
with regard to any territory or to foreign subjects." 

These conclusions of M. Rolin's report, which were ac- 
cepted and unanimously voted for by the Hague Conference 
in a full sitting of July 5th, 1899, renewed the debates on 
principles which M. Bernaert had raised. Coming back to 
the Brussels proposal, M. Bernaert said: "According to 
the Brussels proposal, the conquered, the invaded, country 
recognizes beforehand the invader's rights over the for- 
mer's territory. The invader will either preserve the exist- 
ing laws, or will change them, and will apply them accord- 



262 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

ingly. The officials of the invaded country are authorized 
to put themselves at the conqueror's service, if it suit them 
to do so. ... A like formal pledge does not seem to me 
really admissible. ... What I have just said holds good 
even for the great Powers. Could any man understand that, 
beforehand and in the case of war, the beaten side should 
confer rights on its own conqueror over its own land and 
thus provide its own ruin? . . . 

"It does not seem to me that one can concede beforehand 
as a right something which necessarily belongs to the domain 
of 'fact' and might. And that will seem still more obvious 
when it applies to small countries which cannot — in the 
nature of things — be invaders, but are exposed to the risk 
of being invaded. Here there is not even that uncertainty, 
of those material risks, which I described just now. Bel- 
gium, as you know, is in a peculiar position. It is neutral; 
and the neutrality is guaranteed by the great Powers, and 
notably by our most powerful neighbors. 

"Then we cannot be invaded; how then could the Belgian 
Government submit to the approval of our legislature a 
convention in which is anticipated that the big states would 
break their pledges to us and which sanctioned in advance 
deeds which could only be reckoned as an indisputable mis- 
use of force? ... In my opinion, we could only adopt 
such arrangements as, while admitting the actual fact, with- 
out recognizing any right on the conqueror's part, would 
bind the latter to exercise his power with moderation." 
(Hague C. 1899. 2< ^ Sub-C.) 

The authorized report of M. Rolin contains the answer 
of the Conference to M. Bernaert's speech. "No member 
of the Sub-Committee," we there read, "ever had, more- 
over, any idea that the legal authority of the invaded coun- 
try might give a kind of sanction beforehand to the de facto 
power exercised by an army which invades or occupies a 
territory. But the adoption of exact rules, tending to limit 
the exercise of that power, did seem a still more evident 
necessity, conformable besides to the interests of all the na- 
tions which in turn the fortunes of war may betray." (Peace 
Conference, 1899.) 



RIGHTS OF OCCUPYING POWER 263 

Thus appears in its proper light the first article of the 
Hague Convention, which governs the whole. "The con- 
tracting powers — Belgium as much as Germany — shall give 
instructions to their land forces in conformity with the regu- 
lations with regard to the laws and customs of land war- 
fare annexed to* this present Convention." 

These declarations are an expression of the philosophy 
of right. 

Every right is a moral power of holding, or of acting, 
but not every moral power is a right, in the full sense of that 
word. 

"Right" adds to moral power, which latter implies the 
existence of a duty, the outward means of performing the 
duty required towards the one who has that right. 

In other words, "right" is a moral power, the exercise 
of which "force" sanctions and guarantees. 

International right regulates the legal relations of one 
nation to another. 

In the normal course of national life each folk has, with 
regard to other nations, its own rights, which it means to 
insure respect for by every means in its power, even to, and 
including, the use of armed force. But when the normal 
course of international life is interrupted, when a nation is 
momentarily unable, through weakness, to enforce respect 
for its rights, what happens then? 

Assuredly, its rights, so far as moral power goes, remain 
whole, sacred, morally inviolable, but the holder of those 
rights, for lack of effective means to enforce its rights and 
make itself sure they are respected, is at the mercy of the 
conqueror or of the pro-tem. oppressor. 

It is this violent state of things with which the protectors 
of international law are dealing. 

The Hague Convention comes to the help of the con- 
quered or the oppressed, and says accordingly to the con- 
queror, i. e., to the occupying power: You have before 
you a folk unable for the moment to resist any misuse of 
force, to which you can possibly let yourselves go ; moderate 
yourself, control yourself, do not misuse your power. 

Should the folk of the occupied territory, exasperated 



264 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

by an injustice against which they are defenseless, give way 
to a desperate impulse, you would be drawn into bloody acts 
of repression, without honor to yourselves or profit to the 
victims. 

Be brave enough then to be just and humane. 

The easier it is for you to misuse your strength, the 
more your self-respect bids you not to misuse it. The more 
the conquered are without means of defence, the more you 
owe it to yourself to respect their rights. Indeed, to attack 
a strong but guiltless adversary, to overcome his resistance, 
is an injustice. To knock that adversary down, to finish 
him off after having disarmed him, is monstrous. 

A people subjected to an occupation is this disarmed ad- 
versary. Its rights, because deprived of their natural sanc- 
tion, intrenched in the inviolable sanctuary of the conscience, 
are doubly worthy of respect. Firstly, because they remain 
"rights" in themselves, further, because they borrow from 
their outward helplessness a majesty to which every well- 
bred man cannot but bow. 

Therefore the Hague Conference summons the occupy- 
ing power to its bar to tell him: This folk, whose territory 
you occupy, cannot be ruled on a basis of natural rights and 
duties, which include the normal legal relations, as a whole, 
between nations, but you are not the less bound to respect 
their rights — morally inalienable — which we ourselves take 
under our protection. Should you happen to violate them, 
it is before our tribunal that you will have one day to give 
an account for your injustice. Hence we now put before 
you the charter of your duties. 

Such a situation is plainly precarious. Wherefore the 
authors of the Hague Convention take care to emphasize 
the idea that the "occupier" has a "de facto power, an au- 
thority de facto" such as may "belong to a hostile army," 
and where, in the same art. 43, they say that "the authority 
of the lawful power has, as a matter of fact, passed into the 
occupier's hands," they immediately take the precaution of 
adding that the said power "must respect the laws in force in 
the occupied country, unless absolutely barred from so 
doing." 



RIGHTS OF OCCUPYING POWER 265 

As month after month goes by, the occupying adminis- 
tration does not lose its provisional character. 

Undoubtedly, the prolonged duration of occupation in- 
creases the number of administrative measures, and may 
enlarge their field, but the occupying power remains with- 
out "rights" over a folk which has no duty towards that 
power. It is lacking in moral and legal authority, that is in 
the moral right to demand from its temporary subjects a 
submission which wears the character of a duty, as viewed 
by the conscience and the law of nations. 

Thus, as you will fully recognize, we cannot conceive 
a country having two governments over itself. If Belgium 
have the happiness of keeping its King, its Government and 
its army, we cannot conceive that it could have over it an- 
other legal authority than that of its own King and Gov- 
ernment. In the social order, as in nature, a two-headed 
organism is a monstrosity. 

But then, say you, you will thus create inevitable and in- 
extricable complications. What will the occupied folk do 
when it finds itself faced with contradictory orders, coming 
respectively from its own government and from the occupy- 
ing power? 

What will it do? It will not hesitate between a power 
without authority and an authority without power. It is 
to the legitimate authority that its choice will turn. It will 
put "right" above "fact." "Fact" is not the same thing 
as "right." 

A fact has happened, you say, proving that those who 
attribute to themselves a moral right of control over the 
acts of the occupying power have not been able to agree 
among themselves and so are likely to throw the people into 
disorder. 

I do not know whether I thoroughly understand you, but 
this is the meaning which I believe your argument to bear. 
You say that the new military Belgian law does not "call 
up" young men dwelling in the occupied parts of Belgium; 
and from that you infer — it seems — that the Havre govern- 
ment approves your police-proceedings against such young 
men as have tried to join our army. 



266 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

I do not possess the official text of this new Belgian law; 
I doubt whether you have allowed it to come into Belgium. 
But if the government at Havre abstains from again "call- 
ing up" the young men whom you keep here by force, it is 
not because they approve of your police-proceedings; it is 
quite simply that they submit to them. 

The German military force has put so many obstacles in 
the way of our brave fellows that it has been practically im- 
possible for them to perform their duty to their country. 
None the less, the Belgian Government always has in ad- 
miration — do not doubt that — as much as any of the pa- 
triots of the occupied territory — the volunteers who try to 
put themselves at their country's service, at the peril of 
their freedom and their life. But one can admire heroism 
without making a duty of it. 

The people understand that and keep their conscience 
in peace. 

You also think, Baron, that it is useless to appeal to a 
legitimate authority which has power to compare the "Ger- 
man Orders" with the Hague Convention. Practically, 
what you say is : the Belgian Courts remain open and keep 
this power. It would be interesting to get two exact state- 
ments on this subject: one of the de facto position, the other 
on the de jure. 

The Belgian administration of justice remains still in 
action, you say. But has the occupying power always ac- 
knowledged its jurisdiction? Has it not, under circum- 
stances on which I will not dwell, put something in its stead? 

And the sentences of the Belgian courts — has the occupy- 
ing power held them to be, by right, irreformable? If you 
answer Yes, I think with you that a second authority is 
superfluous in all judicial matters. But then, what hinders 
you from recognizing occupied Belgium's other sovereign 
prerogatives? If you feel bound to answer No, will not our 
claim for the sovereignty of the Belgian Fatherland (under 
shelter of international law) remain justified? I have let 
myself be drawn into developments beyond what I foresaw, 



RIGHTS OF OCCUPYING POWER 267 

but if therein I have done wrong it is from yielding to a wish 
which your friendly letter seemed to suggest. 

Accept, Baron, the expression of my sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

Political Department, Governor General of Belgium, 
I. 7889. Brussels, September i$th, 1916. 

To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of Malines. 

Your Eminence was kind enough to give my letter of 
August 1 st an exceedingly detailed answer. You defend 
your point of view with wonderful subtlety, as one might ex- 
pect from a dialectician well versed in scientific controversy. 
Nevertheless, I should like to sum up the impressions made 
on me by your esteemed letter of August 1 6th in your words : 
"We agree in one sense; and in another we do not." 

I will only speak of the "legitimacy_of the occupation" 
in so far as your Eminence has brought forward a new ar- 
gument. In the main, our points of view do not differ much 
from one another, for, as I have said before, we are deal- 
ing merely with the exercise of legislative power. This be- 
longs to those in occupation, and one cannot encroach upon 
it. 

According to the Hague Convention, those who occupy 
territory come into possession of this power by the establish- 
ment of an effective military occupation, and from that in- 
stant the inhabitants are subject to it. According to this 
international contract, the "fact" becomes a "right." 

Your Eminence does not dispute the right of the occu- 
pier to exercise public authority, nor does the Belgian Gov- 
ernment, inasmuch as since August 20th, 19 14, it publishes 
all its orders in a formal manner for those who dwell in 
non-occupied territory. Disputes about the lawful exer- 
cise of authority must then rest solely and merely on the 
grounds of right established by the Hague Convention. In 
no case can the Power of Occupation tolerate or admit that 
the former government, as your Eminence would have it, 
retains a kind of suzerainty over the occupied territory. 

I quite understand what your Eminence is aiming at 



268 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

when you say explicitly that you wish to put the authority 
of the former government above that of those in occupation. 
Are you not thinking about objects which one can only ex- 
pect to be realized after the occupation is over? I shall 
return to this later on. Meanwhile I intend to dwell on 
questions of right and their relation to occupation. 

In your esteemed letter of August 16th last, your Emi- 
nence raises a new objection. You speak of the provisional 
character of occupation, and you thence deduce a lack of 
legal power. 

I did not know that such an interpretation was allowable 
at law. A provisional measure resting on an ordinary con- 
tract has, while the contract lasts, the same legal validity 
as any permanent measure. The Hague Convention says 
nothing about the length of the occupation. So long as the 
condition necessary for its legality exists, i. e., the state of 
effective military occupation, this condition produces results, 
which are quite legal. 

The orders published by the Governor General will 
even hold good after the occupation, because they have 
been published by a lawful government. To lose their force, 
they must be repealed by a formal legislative act of its suc- 
cessor in the exercise of public authority. 

It is enough to quote one example to show that the 
international condition of the occupied country has not 
changed during the occupation. Relatively to Germany, 
Belgium is a foreign country. It has its post, its budget, 
its customs. Belgian judges administer justice in the name 
of the king, and the inhabitants, in order to show their na- 
tionality, wear the Belgian national colors. 

I have thus answered the exact question put to 1 me by 
your Eminence. The exercise of sovereign rights in occu- 
pied territory belongs legitimately to the Governor General 
appointed by the occupying Power. The ancient holders 
of these rights are placed neither above nor below him. 
Within the confines of the occupied territory, they have lost 
all legislative power. 

If there be any restrictions to the exercise of the occu- 
pant's rights, these are settled by the Hague Convention. 



RIGHTS OF OCCUPYING POWER 269 

It is the peace treaty which will determine how the occu- 
pation is to end. In no wise does it depend for its legality 
on the causes of the war. The only condition preliminarily 
required to establish this legality is a state of effective mili- 
tary occupation. 

In my letter of August 1st I spoke of important omis- 
sions in the Hague Convention. I mentioned especially the 
absence from it of any provision for participation by the 
people in the administrative organization of their country. 
Your Eminence answers by a reference to the deliberations 
of the Committees of the Conference that in this wise they 
aimed at the protection of the weak. I know it and I wil- 
lingly admit as much. But my argument went further. I 
deplored the fact that, owing to the lack of directions as to 
the position of the population living in occupied territory, 
the same population were afraid to lend a hand in the work 
of administration, believing that by this co-operation they 
were compromising their political honor. These directions 
would have precluded the possibility of much useless uncer- 
tainty such as has been shown in Belgium among employees 
of the post office. 

It is self-evident that in the course of this discussion we 
must never lose sight of the fact that not only is the Gov- 
ernor General invested with the Belgian public authority, 
but that his mission is also to protect Germany's interests 
and above all her military interests. Obviously, he cannot 
make use for this purpose either of the tribunals or the 
Belgian penal code. Your Eminence would not expect any 
Belgian judge to pass sentence upon one of your countrymen 
who had offended against German interests. For the same 
reason, the Belgian tribunals cannot act as judges in a court 
of final appeal, and thus be called upon to decide upon the 
legitimacy of German decrees. 

I come now to a point mentioned above. If I may sum 
up the utterances of your Eminence during the time of 
occupation, I take it that the following is your point of 
view: 

A Belgian patriot cannot bring himself to observe sim- 
ply in their "objective judicial form the regulations imposed 



270 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

by international conditions imposed on an occupied territory. 
Nor can he resign himself to wait patiently for the course 
of events although he can have no influence on the results 
of military operations. What he wants is, first, to hear 
words of comfort and hope, and secondly, to give full and 
effective vent to his feelings." 

To reach this goal, your Eminence would like to give the 
clergy an important role. 

To this I would answer first, by repeating what I have 
said before : that the clergy have never been hindered from 
ministering to the faithful the religious consolations of 
which they may stand in need at the present hour. More- 
over, Belgians have never been forbidden to show their 
patriotism in a seemly manner, either inside or outside the 
church. To my mind, the best way of showing one's patriot- 
ism is to be reasonable and bow to the necessities brought 
about by a state of war, and during the occupation to take 
one's share loyally in the work of administration. Civilians 
— and that is the obvious meaning of the Hague Conven- 
tion — must not take part in military operations. It follows 
that the administration of a country ought to be looked 
upon from a purely objective point of view and- that every 
step taken by the occupying Power should not be consid- 
ered as proceeding from a hostile intention. One often 
hears words like this in the mouths of intelligent Belgians : 
"This Order is a good one, but we cannot acknowledge this 
in public for we do not want to be looked upon as lacking 
in patriotism." 

From this standpoint, publications injurious to the Power 
in occupation and exaggerated outbursts of patriotism are 
doing a great deal of harm. They are hindering the people 
from regaining their composure. There is only one ex- 
planation. Some far-off political goal is being aimed at 
which has nothing to do with the calm which ought to reign 
during the occupation and which is even incompatible there- 
with. One is tempted to infer that the entertaining of hos- 
tile feelings either secret or public against the occupying 
Power is used as a means for reaching this goal. 

I will not say anything about the political activities mani- 



RIGHTS OF OCCUPYING POWER 271 

fested by priests engaged in preaching so as not to repeat 
anything I have said before. In my last letter I took the 
liberty to remind your Eminence that you yourself in quot- 
ing the words of Christ had renounced all meddling with 
politics. Your Eminence answers that this was good enough 
for times of peace but not for the time of war. Without 
wishing to criticize the facts, I should like, however, to be 
allowed to refer to your Eminence's pastoral activities be- 
fore the war. On going through the collection of your pas- 
toral letters, I have more than once come across utterances 
which belong beyond all doubt to the political realm. I 
find it hard to remove the impression that your Eminence's 
study of St. Thomas Aquinas furnished you with reasons 
for justifying on theological and philosophical grounds the 
intrusion of politics into your episcopal ministry and at the 
same time for defending yourself against any exception 
which may be taken against your line of conduct. But again 
I beg your Eminence not to look upon any remarks of mine 
as criticism, for I want to confine myself to reviewing your 
behavior during the occupation. Under present circum- 
stances, I think that liberty of worship essentially implies 
a duty on the part of the clergy to waive all claim to meddle 
in politics. The decrees of the occupying Power would be 
of no avail if there were places where they had no force 
whatever and where they could be broken with impunity. 
On sundry occasions our attention has been called to the 
fact that, by allowing during the occupation a certain amount 
of political activity in the churches, we were favoring the 
Catholic party. For this party can make use of the churches 
in order to perform certain acts that redound to their own 
advantage, while other parties, being unable to hold meet- 
ings, are forced to remain inactive. 

I come to your Eminence's philosophical disquisitions. 
Allow me to repeat once more that I do not take up this 
discussion as a professional philosopher of great repute such 
as your Eminence is. I am a practical man. That is why 
I give my attention less to philosophical abstractions than 
I do to the stern realities of life and men in general. When 
I call your Eminence a professional philosopher, I do not 



272 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

at all mean to say that your Eminence is a "stranger to the 
world." I only mean that you have a tendency to look at 
everything through a philosopher's spectacles. 

As regards Kant, it never entered my head to attack 
him. In my last letter I merely observed without touching 
any question of fact that even if Kant's theories were as 
dangerous as your Eminence makes out, we ought first of 
all to find out whether they have really filtered their way 
into the minds of the German people. 

I now come to the fact; I must be brief. 

Your Eminence leaves altogether out of count the posi- 
tive moral teachings of Kant. I do not believe that from 
the Catholic standpoint you can have any objections to 
raise against any of the principles themselves contained 
therein, no matter how much you lament that this morality 
is independent of the faith. If Kant, while adopting the 
separation, alleged to be dangerous, of morality and right, 
was not prevented in spite of this from teaching a lofty ideal 
morality, why should his followers forget this teaching and 
fall into a brutal subjectivism? I cannot see the necessity 
of this ; and I hold the morality taught by Kant to be a pow- 
erful bulwark for protecting the sense of right. 

I should like to recall in a few words my argument of 
August ist. Your Eminence, a few years before the war, 
did not question the existence in Protestant Germany of a 
deep religious feeling. At Aix-la-Chapelle you loaded the 
German Catholics with praises. Can this truly religious 
spirit have suddenly disappeared from our people? Yet 
the evil influence of Kant ought to have made itself felt long 
ago. 

Your Eminence connects the teachings of Kant, Hegel 
and Nietzsche with the behavior of Germany and her chiefs 
at the time of the declaration of war. You must then of 
necessity explain the coming of England on the scene in fa- 
vor of Belgium by the utilitarian philosophy represented by 
the English school. I think that it is precisely on account 
of its idealistic tendencies that German philosophy is so ill 
suited for application to the ends of real practical life. 
There is no other philosophy which aims so earnestly at 



RIGHTS OF OCCUPYING POWER 273 

freeing its teaching from all conditions and therefore to at- 
tain pure knowledge such as is independent of every prac- 
tical purpose. For this reason it has often been blamed 
for losing itself in the clouds. 

In the course of your arguments, your Eminence touches 
also on what is called "militarism." Assuredly, there is 
something of Kant's categorical imperative in the spirit of 
severe discipline reigning in our army. But in Germany 
we have always held that a good army, ready for war, was a 
guarantee of the people's prosperity. At times of political 
conflict, when the military situation was much better for 
us than in August, 19 14, the knowledge that we had a 
strong army did not hinder us from pursuing a peaceful 
policy. Did not your Eminence yourself clamor for a strong 
army for Belgium, and on this occasion did you not quiet 
the minds of soldiers' parents about the alleged dangers of 
barrack life? 

I do not think myself qualified to talk about the beha- 
vior of Germany at the moment when war was declared; but 
for my own personal edification I should like to address 
your Eminence the following question: "Cannot this way 
of acting be defended, according to St. Thomas Aquinas, by 
the right of legitimate self-defence?" I am not an expert in 
Thomistic philosophy. The idea crosses my mind because 
your Eminence in your last address at St. Gudule, while 
treating of another topic, refers to this "vindicatio." (I 
would, by the way, call your Eminence's attention to the fact 
that the press uses the word "vindicta" instead of "vindi- 
catio" in reporting your Eminence's speech.) If your Emi- 
nence would let the philosophy of St. Thomas alone and 
believe that Germany has acted in legitimate self-defence, 
then we thoroughly understand each other. 

My letter has unfortunately been drawn out to some 
length. But I could not let the occasion pass of expressing 
as well as I could my objections to your Eminence's remarks. 

I offer your Eminence the expression of my sincere es- 
teem and I have the honor to be your devoted servant. 

(Signed) Lancken. 



274 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 

September 25 th, 1916. 
To Baron von der Lancken, Head of the Political Depart- 
ment of the Governor General, Brussels. 

Dear Baron — I have taken advantage of my first free 
hours to read attentively the considerations you unfold in 
your honored letter of September 15th (No. 7889), and I 
rise from that perusal with the impression that you do not 
look for an answer from me. I think that the estimates 
and the conclusions come to in my letter of August 16th 
stand practically established, and I believe that I am not 
going beyond your own opinion when I take your silence on 
this subject as a sign of acquiescence. Still the new points 
which you put forward show some misconceptions or keep 
up some complaints of yours which seem to call still for a 
short explanation. 

I will go through your letter step by step, and will en- 
deavor, as I go along, to deal with the points about which 
our views differ. 

1. To put the Occupying Power in the right, you say 
that the Hague Convention "has turned a 'fact' into a 
'right.' " 

No human authority has power to do that. When an 
occupation is unjust, it remains so, despite all conventions. 
The supreme resource of the oppressed is the power of pro- 
claiming that a "fact" does not establish a "right." 
Nevertheless the "occupation," even without "right" or 
contrary to right, is a "fact" to which the folk of the "occu- 
pied" country have to submit themselves. The rule of the 
occupiers is a fact; the regulations put forth by them are 
facts. None the less these facts do not make a right. And 
that is why the following question arises. Do the regula- 
tions put forth by the authors of an "occupation" which is 
without right or dead against right call for submission 
from the citizens of the occupied country? Do they allow 
of it? For, in short, it seems that in the face of injustice 
and its consequences the sole attitude allowed and bidden is 
that of revolt. 

There is the question of principle — question of morality 



RIGHTS OF OCCUPYING POWER 275 

and of right — which is raised by the issue of regulations by 
a Power lacking from the outset in moral and judicial au- 
thority. 

I have given an answer to this question as far back as my 
first Pastoral of Xmas, 19 14: No, in and by themselves 
these regulations do not bind the conscience. Looked at 
wholly in themselves, they even call for non-submission. 
But, between two evils, we must choose the lesser. To 
avoid worse wrongs than those of being ruled by the occu- 
pying power, it is allowable to submit to certain regula- 
tions which in themselves have little force. It is morally 
decent to conform to them. The citizens of the occupied 
country have grounds for supposing that the sole sovereign 
authority they recognize approves of their peaceful beha- 
vior, reasonably and within the limits I have just laid down. 
Failing this submission, it is true that the occupying power 
is destitute of the prerogatives of sovereignty. Hence the 
Hague Convention imposes on them an obligation to admin- 
ister the occupied country according to the laws of that coun- 
try. If they violate these laws they add a further injustice 
to their original one. 

2. You are astonished at my speaking of "the provi- 
sional nature of the occupation," and you credit me with 
deducing from that provisional nature the unlawfulness of 
the "occupation" itself. Further, in developing your ar- 
gument, you make me speak as if I had held the two expres- 
sions "provisional" and "for a short time" meaning the 
same thing. 

Be kind enough to read my words again. You will then 
see that I have written exactly: "Though month after month 
goes by, the occupation does not lose its 'provisional' char- 
acter. However long the occupation may last, the occupy- 
ing Power remains without rights over a folk which has no 
duties towards the occupier." 

"Provisional" means something which happens while 
one waits for something else. A provisional government is 
one which is got up during a revolution, or during a war, 
whilst awaiting the establishing of a constitution or the re- 
turn of the settled government. It is not because it lasts 



276 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

only for a short time that the provisional government is 
"unlawful;" it is because it presents itself to the occupied 
country with no credentials. It is a "Power" without title- 
deeds. Its existence remains precarious, however long it 
may last. Its regulations have only a borrowed validity. 

You tell me that the regime of occupation will end only 
when the military occupation ends, and that power will not 
pass into the hands of another Government until after Peace 
is concluded: alas! I know that, but, once again, that is only 
how things stand, and the "ipso facto" is not, and does not 
create, "right." 

3. I gladly own with you that the Hague Conference 
will have some criticisms to make on the way the occupied 
countries were "administered," notably on the functions 
and the lot of those in the administration staff. 

4. I was expecting your answer: "The General Gov- 
ernment cannot concede the right of giving final decisions 
to the Belgian judges." 

But, if so, accept our conclusion as well: i. e., that we 
cannot say we are satisfied, when, teaching our appeal to a 
moral authority which confronts the German decrees with 
the articles of the Hague Convention, you say to us, "But 
this appeal is useless; have you not the Belgian courts of 
justice always in operation?" 

5. Your respected letter then passes back to the way of 
thinking about and upholding patriotism under "occupation" 
conditions, and specially as to the part played by the clergy 
and by myself in this respect. 

A little while ago we were discussing the nature of the 
occupying Power. Against the claims of "right" you brought 
forward the "fact." To the title of that authority you op- 
posed the Power in "actual practice." In turn I set "right" 
against "the fact," theory against practice. 

You outlined to us a delightful form of occupation, a 
"paternal" government which had at heart, above all, the 
general interests of the occupied country, and you asked 
me if the wisest and at the same time the most useful attitude 
on our part would not be to co-operate with this regime of 
occupation, while keeping ourselves free to cherish in our in- 



RIGHTS OF OCCUPYING POWER 277 

most hearts distant hopes of a still better future. It would 
be painful to me, Baron, to answer your most pleasant letter 
by a judicial demand. That would be, besides, quite need- 
less. But can you forget the conditions under which the in- 
vasion of Belgium took place? The calumnies, the vexa- 
tious proceedings, fines, imprisonments, tortures, deporta- 
tions, death sentences, bloody executions, requisition in 
money and in kind, the refusals to do justice, which our 
hapless country (the Catholic clergy first and foremost) 
has had to undergo during these two long years of the "oc- 
cupation"? Do not the latest acts of compulsion date 
from yesterday? 

We have protested sometimes against these proceedings, 
we have — to the best of our power — kept our folk quiet by 
instilling into their hearts an unshakable trust in the Al- 
mighty and in the strength of our allies; but not even to 
protect ourselves have we resorted to direct reprisals, nor to 
incitements to active resistance. 

The fact that — in what relates to me personally — my 
teaching has been (as you aver) a reproduction of the 
theology and the philosophy of a Doctor of the 13th cen- 
tury, St. Thomas Aquinas, — does not this fact afford a pal- 
pable proof that (far from sacrificing principle to a pass- 
ing phase of politics) I remained the humble and faithful 
servant of eternal and impersonal truth? 

Even the words which you remember, "To God the 
things of God, to Caesar the things which are Caesar's," I 
am ready to say them again, in time of war as in time of 
peace. But in order to make them applicable to the delimi- 
tation of the two authorities, religious and civil, it should 
be understood that these two authorities are in lawful oppo- 
sition to each other. 

6. The letter of August 16th expressed my view on the 
dangers to the unity and firmness of the conscience brought 
about by those manifold water-tight partitions which Kant 
puts between metaphysics and science, between knowledge 
and "will," between morality and "right." I need not go 
back to that worn-out subject. 



278 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

Does it follow from this that I deem the German nation 
to be without religion or morals, and that hence I must 
disown the homage I have lately paid to that nation? By 
no means. 

The correspondence in which I denounce the infiltra- 
tions of "Kantian" ideas into the minds of the German Em- 
pire bears witness still to my admiration for "that great 
and fine folk," which took part without protest in the viola- 
tion of Belgian neutrality; and since doing so, strives by 
the most wretched expedients of casuistry at bay to jus- 
tify the perjury. 

The spectacle of this general throwing-over of right 
and truth baffles me. I seek a benevolent explanation of it 
in the intellectual environment of the nation. If you can 
find as charitable and more plausible a solution to the 
enigma, then, Baron, give it to me. 

You raise the objection, it is true, that logically I ought 
to attribute the intervention of England on behalf of Bel- 
gium to the English "utilitarian" philosophy, just as I 
make the German philosophy responsible for the invasion 
of our country. It is not my place, Baron, to look closely 
into other people's intentions. I stick to the facts : Germany 
has done us harm, to assure her own welfare. England did 
herself harm to do us good. Germany attacked us when she 
was ready. England did not wait for that before defending 
us. 

Among the English folk natural uprightness triumphed 
over the localized surface influence of a school of thought. 
Among the German folk the age-long, widespread, deep 
influence of Kant and his disciples has warped public feel- 
ing, and an inflaming of the sentiment of national strength 
consumed the barriers of righteousness in an hour of crisis. 

7. Rightly or wrongly, it is to this inflamed sentiment 
that I attribute the origin of Prussian militarism. 

St. Thomas, into whose teachings you bid me search, 
holds that justice, which orders respect to be paid to public 
right, is the highest of all the natural virtues, because it 
makes us put our private interests below the interest of the 
community. Armed force is, in civilized life, the necessary 



RIGHTS OF OCCUPYING POWER 279 

helper of "right." The army, when used in the service of 
"right," is eminently worthy of every one's respect, esteem 
and gratitude. 

Pacifism, which means the suppression of armies and 
arms, and the extolling of peace at any price, peace for the 
sake of peace, peace come-what-may, would doom us to a 
like disregard, to a like surrender of right and the viola- 
tion of right, of justice and injustice. It would be at the 
same time both a social mistake and an act of cowardice. 

But militarism, which wishes the army to exist for itself, 
and does not subordinate it to the safeguarding and de- 
fence of right, of order and of peace ; which hails the letting 
loose of military force as glorious manifestation of national 
power, bearing in itself its own justification, — this kind of 
militarism is another social aberration which identifies honor 
with pride. 

You say that "Notwehr" — the need of defending one- 
self, if I rightly understand you — justifies the declaration 
of war by the German Empire. 

Assuredly, "Notwehr" does not justify the invasion of 
Belgium. This invasion, from our point of view, was and 
will ever remain an injustice ; from the point of view of the 
(German) Empire, the breach of an oath. 

Germany's existence was not threatened, nor were its 
rights attacked. "Notwehr," the need of defending oneself, 
of which it seeks to take advantage, has, so it seems to me, 
but one intelligible meaning, namely, that it thought the time 
was favorable for asserting its superiority, for the exalta- 
tion of its natural strength. "Notwehr" thus understood 
is a corollary of Militarism. 

Once again I have let myself be drawn into a lengthy 
discussion which has gone beyond my reckoning. I have 
not succeeded in stating clearly my ideas with greater con- 
ciseness. 

Accept, Baron, the assurance of my sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 



2 8o CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

Political Department of the Governor General, 
/. 91 8 1. Brussels, October 6th, 19 16. 

To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of Malines. 

Your Eminence — In replying to your Eminence's es- 
teemed letter of September 25th, I feel I must deal, and 
point by point, with the questions therein raised. I am 
obliged to take this course as I should be loth to approve 
by my silence certain views of yours. 

The first question is that of the legality of the occupa- 
tion, a point which you again call into question not only 
against my opinion, but also against that of the Hague Con- 
ference. To my way of thinking your Eminence does not 
sufficiently take into account that herein is a question of 
international contract drawn up in accordance with ordinary 
regulations and freely agreed to by the contracting parties. 
This contract within certain fixed limits establishes a fully 
defined Right. The judicial obligation is linked with a de 
facto state of things: it disappears when this comes to an 
end. However this may be, I would refer your Eminence 
to the members of the Conference themselves, when you 
expressly refuse to accord to the contract concluded by them 
the character of a work of right — une ceuvre de droit, be- 
cause, as you say, no human power can change a "fact" into 
a "right." Moreover, there is another altogether essential 
point which we should not lose sight of in our discussion — 
it is that the Hague Convention treats of the Right of War. 
It regulates the way in which War should be carried on. In 
a particular manner, the arrangements it lays down on the 
subject of occupation are destined to create in the occupied 
territory a state of order which will allow the civil popu- 
lation to follow their ordinary manner of life to the end of 
the War. 

The lawfulness of the occupation, within the bounds, 
fixed by law, cannot depend, as I said before, on the causes 
of the War. The question whether we should take any ac- 
count of these and confront them with the result of the 
discussion — I am speaking in quite a general way — is a mat- 
ter reserved for peace negotiations. Because the population 
of occupied territory have certain natural aspirations, or 



RIGHTS OF OCCUPYING POWER 281 

have certain ends in view, that is no reason for raising 
doubts about the legality of the occupation itself. 

Your Eminence must allow me to observe, that you ex- 
plicitly admit I am right when you say : "The occupation even 
whether outside the law or contrary to it is a fact to which 
the dwellers in occupied territory have to submit. It is 
obvious that bounds have been set by the Hague Conference 
to the exercise of legal authority by the occupying power. 
In cases unforeseen by the Hague Conference the occu- 
pier, relying on his own sense of justice, imposes certain 
restrictions on the exercise of his power, having at the same 
time regard for the aspirations of the people. He only 
asks the inhabitants of the occupied territory to accept with 
docility and sweet reasonableness the steps taken by him in 
his capacity of trustee of the legal power in the country 
undergoing occupation." 

I agree with your Eminence's definition of the word 
provisional. "Provisional means what one does while wait- 
ing for something else." Indeed, the occupation will come 
to an end in one way or another, and will be replaced by 
some other juridical state. 

As regards the competency of Belgian tribunals, I would 
only remark that in no case must we confuse juridical with 
legal power. 

I would also like to touch briefly on national demonstra- 
tions during the occupation. Your Eminence avers that 
you are doing your best to keep the people quiet by uphold- 
ing their patriotic spirit. But in addressing the public prob- 
ably nothing is harder than to harmonize one's intentions 
with the actual effect one produces. One of the most 
brilliant speakers in the French Parliament, one of the lead- 
ers of the Catholic party, told me once, that when he made 
one of his sensational speeches he was oftener than not 
misunderstood by the very members of his party. As I have 
said already the main issue in the present case is not merely 
to keep before our eyes the maintenance of public order, the 
disturbance of which would entail needless sacrifices, but 
also what attitude the people are led to adopt in regard to 



282 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

the essentially pacific administrative work of the occupying 
power. 

Just one word about Kant. I know well enough what 
your Eminence was aiming at the very first time you men- 
tioned Kant's philosophy. But your attempt to give it a 
favorable interpretation was not a sufficient motive for me 
to say that I appreciated it, when, in fact, I did not share 
your opinion. Regarding my remarks about the "notwehr" 
it seems to me that your Eminence has not quite grasped 
the meaning which I gave that word. "Notwehr" connotes 
"the act of defending oneself in the case of necessity." In 
that case many things are allowed which are forbidden in 
normal times. The idea of necessity is not unknown in 
Theology, as in the case of urgent baptism. It allows the 
deviation from rules laid down for ordinary baptisms. If 
your Eminence will review in this light the events which 
occurred in Germany at the end of July, 19 14, you will 
be satisfied that very little could be laid at the door of Kant) 

A young German philosopher, with whom I was corT- 
versing lately, spoke highly of the wonderful fairness and 
clearness with which your Eminence, in your work, "The 
sources of contemporary philosophy," lays bare and criti- 
cally examines the doctrines of your adversaries. If you 
would apply the same calm and unruffled method in review- 
ing the events which occurred at the outset of the war, you 
would probably no longer defend the ideas expressed in your 
letter of September 25th. I do not believe I can convince 
your Eminence by a mere unpretentious letter. I would, 
however, call your attention to the following facts: Your 
Eminence asserts that there was no "notwehr" in the case 
of Germany, because her existence was not threatened. I 
answer that her existence was seriously threatened from the 
moment the Russians mobilized. For, in examining this ques- 
tion, a decisive factor is to be found in the conditions of 
modern warfare, rather than in some diplomatic scheme 
evolved at the eleventh hour, the sole purpose of which is 
to gain time. If we keep before our eyes the huge number 
of men bearing arms, the difficulties of setting these enor- 
mous masses of men in motion, also the extreme importance, 



RIGHTS OF OCCUPYING POWER 283 

from the point of view of the military advantage to be 
gained by the saving of a single day, mobilization is tanta- 
mount to war. By this hasty mobilization the Russians neces- 
sarily brought into play a system of alliances which for ten 
years had been directed against us. That the annihilation of 
Germany was contemplated must often enough have been 
apparent to your Eminence from the speeches of Entente 
statesmen. 

We must also bear in mind that a military offensive 
can very well be the beginning of a defensive war, just as 
on the other hand, an aggressive war may begin with opera- 
tions of a purely defensive character, in all which, geographi- 
cal conditions, fortifications, etc., . . . are very important 
factors to be reckoned with. We must also take into ac- 
count the interests which the several combatants have in 
carrying the war into enemy territory. 

If we examine the remote causes of the War, the pretext 
upon which England has justified her entry into the arena 
vanishes into thin air. I am avowedly opposed to rash gen- 
eralizations. True, I admit that many Englishmen have a 
deeply rooted sense of righteousness. But England as a 
State has always acted in her own interests without the least 
scruple. So staunch a friend of England's as Georges Cle- 
menceau has reproached her with this tendency throughout 
the course of the war. If your Eminence follows attentively 
the drama of which Greece is the theater, you will no longer 
be able to boast of the British Government's righteousness. 
You will arrive at the same conclusion if you go back in 
mind to the scandalous overthrow of the Boer republic. 
Now, as then, the English people follow in the wake of 
their government with enthusiasm. Without raising a single 
protest, not only did they allow a small people to be dragged 
into the war, but also compelled it to wage, in the capacity 
of an ally, a war against its own interests. I am aware that 
all kinds of subterfuges are being resorted to in order to 
prove that Greece is acting of her own free will; this only 
makes England's attitude more reprehensible than ever. It 
is quite certain that there is no case for "notwehr" here. 

I would not like to end this letter, although it is already 



284 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

long enough, without touching upon the question of the 
so-called "militarism." I am quite willing to concede to 
your Eminence that your ideas are founded on the doctrine 
of the great mediaeval philosopher. But precisely on ac- 
count of the depth of that doctrine, I am astonished to' see 
your Eminence attribute the most formidable war in the his- 
tory of the world to external and, so to say, accidental 
causes. Germany, which economically was on the eve of 
the most prodigious development, had everything to gain by 
the maintenance of peace. The true cause of the war was 
England's traditional hostility to every rival she encoun- 
tered in the world's market or who threatened her sover- 
eignty of the seas. The position of the German army in 
19 14 was less favorable than before, for the steps taken 
to strengthen it in face of the recent increases in the Russian 
and French armies had not yet had time to bear fruit. 
Moreover, it is only a central power that feels the need of 
completing her military preparations : in fact, she has always 
to count on the possibility of having war on two fronts, 
and she must seek to compensate by the rapidity of her op- 
erations the numerical and strategical superiority of her 
foes. England never felt the necessity of warlike prepara- 
tions; she has lived by herself in her own island and had 
allies on the continent always ready. Yet she kept her fleet 
which forms her most important arm always ready for 
battle ; she often showed this by trial mobilizations or naval 
reviews which were like threats directed against possible 
enemies. England is, besides, interested in a protracted war 
between continental powers. A hundred years ago, when 
Europe was engaged in its struggle against France, she 
quietly built up her colonial empire. 

To-day the blockade which excludes Germany from com- 
mercial rivalry secures for England enormous advantages, 
for during this time she sells coal, munitions and arms to her 
allies at prices never reached before. There we have an 
example of what it is to use, with as little hesitation as scru- 
ple, one's material pre-eminence. German militarism, such 
as your Eminence conceives it, namely as a product of the 
sentiment of force, has no existence, because our army is the 



RIGHTS OF OCCUPYING POWER 285 

best school where the strict sentiment of duty and the spirit 
which subordinates particular to general interests is able to 
develop. 

I take this opportunity to forward herewith a letter 
which has reached me through the official agency of a neu- 
tral state. I hope shortly to answer your Eminence's letter 
of the 5th instant. 

I offer to your Eminence the expression of my sincere es- 
teem, and I have the honor to be, 

Yours devotedly, 

("Signed) Lancken. 

Archbishop's House, Louvain, 

October ioth t 1916. 
To Baron von der Lancken, Chief of the Political Depart- 
ment, Governor General, Brussels. 

Baron — Your esteemed letter I. 91 81 dated October 
6th has just reached me and I hasten to answer it by return 
of post. It seems to me indeed that I have only to acknowl- 
edge the receipt of it. 

The distinction between fact and right in a regime 
of occupation; the original flaw of the occupation, which 
by the avowal of the occupant, as well as according to the 
opinion of the occupied, violates the right of nations; the 
respect due to patriotic sentiments; the theory of right dis- 
tinguished from the morality and influence on German 
thought of the philosophy of Kant; the German conception 
of militarism : these various topics, which have formed the 
subject of our previous correspondence, appear to be ex- 
hausted. 

Regarding the occupation, I should like nevertheless to 
add one word. You enunciate the theory that we must 
consider the occupation in itself independently of the condi- 
tions under which it was brought about. But what would 
you say if it occurred to a man to come and install himself 
in your house under the pretext that he had a quarrel with 
his neighbors, and if in answer to your protests he con- 
tented himself with saying, "I am now in occupation. Here 
I am and here I stay" ? 



286 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

Your correspondence touches on a fresh topic, or rather 
it puts forward fresh developments, an idea which entered 
only incidentally into our discussion. Regarding the "not- 
wehr," which may have caused the declaration of war, you 
examine to-day the general situation of Europe with the 
view, in Germany's name, of reaching this conclusion: "I 
attack but it is only to defend myself." This is a vast sub- 
ject, and to treat it correctly it would be needful to review 
the series of events which immediately preceded the war, to 
examine the books of different colors published by the Gov- 
ernments of the belligerent nations — the Germano-Austrian 
correspondence is unfortunately missing from the collection 
— it would be necessary, in order to follow you step by step, 
to explore the history of English policy and the trend of 
its diplomacy up to the present hour. So wide a discussion 
has no chance of finality. Moreover, my means of informa- 
tion and reference are to-day too scanty to allow me to 
engage with prudence in such delicate questions. 

To the names mentioned in my letter of the 5th instant * 
I take the liberty to add those of two "aumoniers du 
travail" who now for several months have been detained in 
Germany, M. Houet, prisoner at Anrath, and M. Lesire, 
prisoner at Munster in Westphalia. 

Receive, Baron, the assurance of my sincere esteem. 

D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

Political Department of the Governor General of Belgium, 
S. No. I. 9632. Brussels, October l^th, 1916. 

To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of Malines. 

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your 
Eminence's esteemed letter of the 10th instant. I am also 
of opinion that our exchange of views regarding the right 
of occupation and the questions bearing on it has been 
exhausted: all further discussion would be superfluous. I 
do not wish to revert to it save to reply to the last remark 
made by your Eminence. 

Your Eminence compares the occupation of a country to 

* In a letter addressed to Baron von der Lancken and dated October 5th 
the Cardinal interceded in favor of several persons convicted. 



RIGHTS OF OCCUPYING POWER 287 

the violation of a particular abode. I think this comparison 
is far from solving the question in discussion. In the case 
which concerns us, we should not try to seek arguments in 
lame comparisons when all the elements for the solution 
may be found in the question itself. A man thrusts himself 
into another man's house with the plea that he has a quarrel 
with his neighbor: that has nothing in common with legiti- 
mate defence (notwehr). Besides, I only spoke of the gen- 
eral political situation and the conditions of modern warfare 
because it was essential to do so to explain Germany's legiti- 
mate defence. 

I avail myself of this opportunity to inform you that 
Viaene, Director of the Brothers' school at Malines, has 
obtained from the Governor General the remission of the 
rest of his sentence and will shortly be set at liberty. Nev- 
ertheless I must ask of your Eminence to be good enough 
to give me some assurance that Viaene will not for the future 
commit fresh infringements of orders issued by the occupy- 
ing power. 

I have also the pleasure to acquaint your Eminence that 
Mademoiselle Marie Vergote, in whom your Eminence is 
interested, will soon be brought back from Germany and 
allowed to visit her mother in her own home. 

(Signed) Lancken. 



CHAPTER XXVIII 

FRESH ARRESTS OF PRIESTS 

Again and again the Cardinal had complained to the 
Governor General of the harsh measures taken against the 
clergy by the occupying power. He had made it clear that 
besides many other drawbacks that had resulted from the 
arrest of priests and religious the exercise of divine worship 
and the maintenance of classes in the colleges had been seri- 
ously interfered with. The only remedy that Baron von 
Bissing could find to meet this inconvenience was to order 
that for the future each bishop should be notified as early 
as possible of the repressive measures taken against any 
of the priests of his diocese. But this decision was carried 
into effect only during the months of August and September, 
1916. 

Brussels, August Sth, 19 16. 
Political Department of the Government General of Bel- 
gium. 

In the organization of divine worship, with a view to 
prevent disturbances arising from breaches of order by 
priests and the penalties inevitably resulting from them, the 
Governor General has decided to bring each case as early 
as possible to the cognizance of their lordships the bishops. 
Agreeably to this decision I have the honor to inform your 
Eminence of the following cases : 

An inquiry has been set on foot against Canon Alfred 
Kips, director of St. Mary's Institute at Brussels, for having 
retained and propagated forbidden publications. The Abbe 
Bernaerts, parish priest of St. Charles's at Antwerp, has 
likewise been arrested for breaking the regulations of the 
censorship. Brother Viaene, of Malines, also has been 

288 



FRESH ARRESTS OF PRIESTS 289 

put under arrest. He is found to have taken a part in clan- 
destine correspondence. 

I offer to your Eminence the expression of my sincere 
esteem, ad interim. 

(Signed) Graf. Harrack. 

P. S. — The Rev. Daumont, an assistant priest of Brus- 
sels, has been sentenced for various misdemeanors to one 
year and six months' imprisonment. 

Brussels, August i6th, 1916. 
Political Department of the Government General of Bel- 
gium. 
To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of 
Malines. 

In accordance with the Governor General's decision, 
which has already been made known to your Eminence, I 
have the honor to make the following communication : 

Dean Cooreman, of Overyssche, induced the parish 
priests Van den Eynde, of Neeryssche, Covens, of Loom- 
beck, and the Curate Busseen, of Huldenberg, to hold the 
Corpus Christi procession without the sanction of the mili- 
tary authorities. The Curate Michiels, of Neeryssche, lent 
assistance during the procession. On these different ecclesi- 
astics fines have been inflicted. 

I offer to your Eminence the expression of my sincere 
esteem. Per interim. 

(Signed) Graf. Harrack. 

Brussels, August 24-th, 19 16. 
1 Rue Lambemont. 
Political Department of the Government General of Bel- 
gium. 
To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of 
Malines. 
Putting into execution the decision come to by the Gov- 
ernor General, I have the honor to make the following 
announcement to your Eminence: F. Schmitz, S. J., of 
Louvain, has been arrested for assisting Belgians of military 
age to cross the frontier. An inquiry has been set on foot 



290 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

regarding the priests Van Linden and Peter Duwez, of St. 
Mary's Institute, at Brussels, for having evaded the orders 
of the censorship. 

I take advantage of this opportunity to acknowledge 
with thanks the receipt of your Eminence's letter of August 
1 6th. 

I have read it with interest and I shall do myself the 
pleasure of replying to it in detail. 

I present to your Eminence the expression of my sincere 
esteem. 

(Signed) Lancken. 

Brussels, September nth, 19 16. 
Political Department of the Government General of Bel- 
gium. 
To His Eminence Cardinal Merrier, Archbishop of 
Malines. 

Pursuant to the orders of the Governor General, I have 
the honor of informing your Eminence that the parish priest 
Swalus of Laeken has been condemned to a year and two 
months' imprisonment and in addition to a fine of 200 
marks. He will undergo his imprisonment in Germany. 

The Curate Pittoors, of Kessel-Loo, has been arrested 
for plying the trade of a spy. 

I offer to your Eminence the expression of my sincere 
esteem. Yours devotedly, 

(Signed) Lancken. 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 

September 15 th, 19 16. 
To the Baron von der Lancken, Head of the Political 
Department of the General Government, Brus- 
sels. 
Dear Baron — I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your 
letter dated the 24th of August, but which, owing to cir- 
cumstances outside my control or yours, was only delivered 
to me on the 6th of September. There you tell me that 
Father Schmitz has been arrested, and that proceedings 



FRESH ARRESTS OF PRIESTS 291- 

are being taken against two professors of St. Mary's In- 
stitute: Mr. Van Linden and Mr. Duwez. 

Some days ago I learned that M. Le Cure Bernaerts, of 
Antwerp, had been condemned to a year's imprisonment and 
sent away into Germany. He was guilty of keeping in his 
possession his own bishop's pastorals, and of having had a 
list drawn up of those of his parishioners who were in the 
army. 

Canon Kips, director of St. Mary's Institute, at Schaer- 
beek (Brussels), has just been sentenced to three months' 
imprisonment and a fine for having been found in pos- 
session of two patriotic songs and two of his bishop's pas- 
torals. 

If I were to make use of the words "to punish severely" 
with regard to these vexatious measures, which for two 
years have been inflicted on our beloved and noble clergy 
(blow after blow), you would cry out in protest, my dear 
Baron. In your inmost heart, however, you may well think 
that I am speaking euphemistically. For, after all, I take 
it that only soldiers by profession, whose horizon does not 
extend beyond the barrack walls, suppose that momentary 
success justifies the misuse of force; but that men put in 
charge of the civil administration of an unjustly occupied 
country, that professional diplomats can approve of pro- 
ceedings at once useless and vexatious, that passes my un- 
derstanding. Unhappily, whether you submit to the orders 
of the military or whether you make your own, the out- 
come is the same for our poor country and our splendid 
clergy. It is and will remain the same for the great fame 
of the German empire. When the victims are able to speak 
freely, it will not be those who sat in judgment on them who 
will cut a good figure at the bar of impartial history. 

Do you wish for another specimen of which you seem 
not to be aware of German justice? 

Two pupils of the Malines Grand Seminaire — MM. 
Willems and Malve — are among the ecclesiastical criminals 
of recent date. 

Mr. Willems has been in prison for six weeks, no one 
knows why. I presume that he is suspected of having sent 



292 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

a letter of encouragement to his brother at the front. And 
the "preventive detention" still goes on. I say nothing as 
to the hateful kind of questioning which he and one of his 
companions, the Rev. Mr. Soille, had to undergo. Their 
case has become known to every one. 

It is on this case of Mr. Malve that I wish to fix your 
attention for a moment, especially as you are not, I under- 
stand, altogether unacquainted with it. 

The young cleric, Mr. Malve, in a private room of a 
private house — the seminary, to wit, was enjoying his play- 
time with two of his fellow students. He had sung sundry 
tunes,, some religious, some secular ones. It came into his 
head to strike up the "Marseillaise," without thinking that 
outside in the street a German was listening. The next day 
the police thrust their way into the seminary and threat- 
ened all there with a penalty — always the same respect for 
The Hague convention ! — if the author of the mischief did 
not make himself known. 

The generous-minded student, not personally known to 
me — I am anxious to emphasize that fact — hurried before 
his judges, anxious above all to shelter his fellow students. 

A man of good sense, I do not say one of warm heart, 
would have pardoned him, would he not? or else have con- 
gratulated the brave young man on his act? 

By no means. Mr. Malve was condemned to three 
months' imprisonment. More than that, the rector of the 
seminary, deemed answerable for a bit of fun of which he 
could not have been aware, was also condemned to a fine 
of 300 marks. 

Nor is this all. After a whole month's detention your 
political department makes it known to the heads of the 
seminary that if a petition for pardon is presented Mr. 
Malve would be set free. The petition was duly drawn 
up. It was put into your own hands, Baron. You re- 
ceived it. But at that moment it seemed to you that Ger- 
man justice could only stoop to mercy after fresh inquiries 
and new reports, which amounts in plain words to waiting 
until the prisoner had undergone his full sentence. 

In face of facts so edifying — and there are plenty of 



FRESH ARRESTS OF PRIESTS 293 

others we could cite — one hardly knows whether to be angry 
or to smile when a good man writes in the "Monthly Cor- 
respondence," published by the committee for the defense of 
German and Catholic interests (much more German than 
Catholic) during the war (issue of July, 19 16, P. 82) that 
the Belgian clergy ought in justice to appreciate "the frank 
benevolence of the foreign holders of power" (in Bel- 
gium)^ 

It is true that the esteemed Mr. Krebs, professor at 
Friburg in Breisgau — for it is to him that this matter re- 
lates — -asserts that he keeps himself "au courant" of the 
newspapers and has made a journey through Belgium to 
study things there. 

He does not like inquiries in which the voices of oppos- 
ing sides are given. He deems it surer to hold them by 
himself alone. 

But how is it that this good gentleman does not feel 
how . . . well, unchivalrous it is to attack under the pro- 
tection of German bayonets a body of clergy which he knows 
to be gagged? 

When your newspapers bounded on my letter, "On 
My Return from Rome," as if on some prey, and put into 
my mouth a prayer that an epidemic might break out among 
your troops, I asked his Excellency the Governor General 
if he would loyally transmit to my German and Austrian 
brethren in the Catholic episcopate a letter, in which I 
showed that my accusers make me talk nonsense. It will 
be enough for you to read page 5 of the accompanying 
document * to become quite aware yourself that this is 
really so. The context of my pastoral shuts out any logical 
possibility of this hateful interpretation. 

The Governor General refused to agree to my request, 
alleging that my pastoral had been published in Germany, 
and that those who read it were in a position to make cor- 
rection, which I urged, for themselves. 

But my pastoral had not been published in Germany. I 

* With this letter, addressed to Baron von der Lancken, was also sent a 
copy of my letter of August 24, which his Excellency Baron von Bissing 
had refused to forward to the German bishops. 



294 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

should be very anxious to learn in what paper, in what 
magazine, its authorized text has been given. Thus calumny 
runs its course. 

An article, the source of which is not known to you, in 
the "Frankfurter Zeitung," of Monday, August 7th, has 
picked it up and set it again in circulation. 

Is it too much to ask you, Baron, to deny this untruth or 
to obtain for me the means of denying it? 

Perhaps, therefore, you will consent to inform the 
"Monthly Catholic Correspondence" more accurately upon 
"the frank benevolence of the foreign holders of power (in 
Belgium)." 

The foreign holders of power solemnly bound them- 
selves, by the Governor General's circular dated April 2 2d, 
to make requisitions upon me "in kind." And our provinces 
here paid forty millions as the price of this undertaking. 
But the monopolizing of vegetables, potatoes, flour, eggs 
and butter, the requisitioning of horses go on as cruelly as 
ever. Is this freedom? Is this benevolence? 

The foreign holders of power, who have already ex- 
torted forty million (francs) a month * soon to amount to a 
thousand million (francs), are at this moment forcing the 
doors of the National Bank and despoiling us of six hundred 
and twenty-five million marks, which are on their way 
through the channel of the German banks, to swell the Ger- 
man Imperial Loan, i. e., to furnish our enemies with muni- 
tions of war to be used against us.f Is this freedom? Is 
this benevolence? 

These deeds of violence, whether they originate in the 
"military justice" or in the "political administration," re- 
press patriotism also in stifling its expression ; but do not be- 
lieve, I beg of you, that silence (as to this) indicates peace. 
Think on the words of Tacitus: "They enforce silence and 
call it peace." Let us not pile up inextinguishable hatred in 

*By an order dated December 10, 1914, the Belgian people had to pay 
a monthly contribution to the war of forty million francs during a year. 
By a new order, November 10, 1915, this monthly contribution had to be 
paid until further orders. 

t On September 12 the German Government had taken by violence all 
the money in German marks existing in the National Bank and in the 
Societe Generate. 



FRESH ARRESTS OF PRIESTS 295 

the Belgian heart. War and its doings are only to be jus- 
tified in so far as they are helps toward peace. 

Accept, Baron, the expression of my sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 



CHAPTER XXIX 

INTERFERENCE OF THE OCCUPYING POWER WITH THE 
TEACHING OF THE NORMAL SCHOOLS 

Beginning with the month of February, 191 6, the Gov- 
ernor General, on the pretense of doing justice to the Flem- 
ish claims, in reality to prepare for the administrative sepa- 
ration which later on he intended to bring about, published 
a long series of orders concerning the use of Flemish in 
the primary schools. Certain provisions of these orders 
were at variance with Belgian legislation. Accordingly, M. 
de la Vallee Poussin, Secretary General of the Ministry of 
Sciences and Arts, in a note addressed to the Governor Gen- 
eral, declared that he could not become an accomplice in 
the execution of illegal decrees. The only answer vouch- 
safed to him by the Governor General was an intimation 
that he was forbidden for the future the exercise of his 
functions as well as all access to the office of his ministry. 

On the 2d of August Baron von Bissing published a 
fresh order "relative to the teaching staff in primary and 
infant schools, also concerning the granting of certificates 
to qualified teachers." 

This order, upsetting the whole teaching of the normal 
schools in the Flemish provinces, was in flagrant opposition 
to the Belgian law. In Article 3, paragraph 2, he ven- 
tured even to fix the language in which communications to 
parents should be drawn up. M. Corman, director of pri- 
mary education, having officially informed the Cardinal of 
the publication of this order, received this reply: 

Archbishop' s House, M alines, 

October 13th, 1916. 
To M. Corman, Director of Primary Education, Brussels. 
Sir — You have been kind enough to convey to me, on be- 
half of the Minister of Sciences and Arts, an order of 

296 



INTERFERENCE WITH SCHOOLS 297 

August 2d, 19 1 6, concerning the use of languages in the 
teaching at the normal schools. This order, I grieve to say, 
ignores The Hague convention and the Belgian constitu- 
tion. It transgresses the limits fixed by Article 43 to the 
acts of the occupying power. In virtue of this Article 43, 
indeed, the steps which the occupying power is authorized 
to take have exclusively for their object the re-establishment 
and maintenance of public life and order, by respecting, 
save where quite impossible, the laws already in force in 
the country. 

The regulation on a novel basis of the use of lan- 
guages in normal education has no relation whatever to the 
public life and order of the country. The occupying power 
by interfering in this matter goes beyond the role which 
is recognized as belonging to it by the law of nations. Fur- 
thermore, the provisions contained in Article 3, paragraph 
2, is tainted with unconstitutionalism. In virtue of the con- 
stitution, Article 23, the use of languages employed in Bel- 
gium is optional. It can only be regulated by the legislature, 
and this regulation can only be enforced in administrative 
and judicial acts. Our free schools enjoy in this respect 
the same privileges as private individuals. The correspond- 
ence with pupils' parents is on all fours with a correspond- 
ence between private persons; no legal enactment fixes the 
language to be employed nor can any member of the legis- 
lature seek to fix it without a direct infringement of Article 
23 of the constitution. 

Thus the law of 1878, which prescribes the languages 
to be used in administrative correspondence, only concerns 
state functionaries. Communes and private individuals 
make use of what language they choose. 

The limitation which the constitution imposes on the 
legislature is imposed a fortiori on the executive. Regard 
for the law of nations and the Belgian constitution forbids 
me then to take any part in the enforcement of the order 
of August 2d on the free normal schools of the diocese of 
Malines. 



298 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

Receive, Mr. Director, the assurance of my sincere 
esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

Though there was no need for them, the Governor 
General opened two new Flemish normal schools at Laeken 
and at Uccle. M. Corman, director of primary education, 
officially informed the Cardinal of this and requested him 
to appoint for each of these schools an ecclesiastic to whom 
instruction in religion and morals could be intrusted. The 
Cardinal refused his assistance to the establishment of these 
needless schools, designed as they were to exercise a Ger- 
manizing influence on the Belgians. The number of his 
priests had, moreover, been considerably reduced, a good 
number of them being with the army in Holland or in Eng- 
land, or in the prisons of Belgium or Germany. 

This is the reply he addressed to M. Corman: 

Archbishop* s House, Malines, 

November 1st, 19 16. 
To the Director General of Primary Education. 

Sir — I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter 
of 3 1st October, in which you inform me that on 6th Novem- 
ber next two training colleges for teachers will be opened, 
one at Laeken, the other at Uccle. 

You request me to appoint an ecclesiastic to each of 
these schools to give instruction in religion and morals or 
in the event of my considering such nominations unneces- 
sary for the time being, to examine the feasibility of in- 
trusting such instructions to curates. 

I regret I see no means of complying with your request 
owing to the scarcity of priests from which we are suf- 
fering. A good number of our clergy are serving as chap- 
lains or stretcher-bearers at the front, and one after an- 
other our zealous priests have been sent to prison in Bel- 
gium or deported into Germany. Hence the number of 
priests employed in active work, either in parochial duties 
or in teaching, is daily growing less; they are overbur- 



INTERFERENCE WITH SCHOOLS 299 

dened with work, and I shrink from rendering their task 
still heavier. 

Accept the assurance of my sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 



CHAPTER XXX 

INTERVIEW BETWEEN THE CARDINAL AND BARON VON DER 

LANCKEN REGARDING THE PASTORAL LETTER 

"THE VOICE OF god" 

Another pastoral letter of the Cardinal, dated Rosary 
Sunday (October ist, 191 6), entitled "The Voice of God," 
was the cause of a fresh conflict between the Cardinal and 
the Governor General. 

The first part of the letter was read in all the churches 
of the diocese on Sunday, October 15th, of the same year. 

After speaking of the protracted trial to which Belgium 
had been subjected, the Cardinal exhorted his flock to pause 
and consider and endeavor to realize the deep meaning of 
the circumstances of the times, and fixing their eyes on 
eternity to listen to the voice of God. "Christ," said he, 
"gives to us through the mystery of His death and resur- 
rection the key to these events. Life springs from death." 
The letter concluded with an exhortation to prayer. "Let 
us be grateful to God. The independence of our country 
is today no longer subject to doubt; let us bless God for 
having assured its preservation. Let us pray for those of 
our dear country who are present and those who are away, 
our brave prisoners and our dear refugees ... we must 
not exclude any one from our prayers, not even our enemies, 
but Christian theology teaches us to regulate our affections. 
'Love with predilection,' says St. Thomas, 'those who do 
good to you.' Let us then above all pray for our dear sol- 
diers whom we hold so dear, not only on account of the 
close and intimate ties of blood and patriotism, but also for 
their whole-hearted devotedness to their country and to us. 
Let us pray also for their wives and mothers, silent heroines 
of the great European drama, and finally for the armies 
of our allies, who, in the east, west and south, fight so 

300 



"THE VOICE OF GOD" 301 

bravely and with such stubbornness for the common cause." 
The Cardinal furthermore asked for prayers for stricken 
Poland and the poor Armenian people. 

"And let us continue to the end," he concludes, "pa- 
tiently, perseveringly. 'Sursum corda.' Lift up your hearts. 
Let us hasten our deliverance. Let us implore God in the 
words of the holy liturgy, 'Come to my aid, O God, O 
Lord, make haste to help me.' (Deus in adjutorium meum 
intende, Domine ad adjuvandum me festina.) Meanwhile 
be calm, be courageous, do not murmur. Let us apply to 
our sufferings as patriots what our Saviour said of our eter- 
nal salvation, 'He that shall persevere to the end shall be 
saved.' (Qui perseveraverit usque in finem hie salvus 
erit.)" 

On October 9th the printers of the pastoral letter — 
MM. Smeesters, father and son — were arrested. In the 
course of a domiciliary visit made at their printing works, 
250 copies of the letter were seized by the police. 

On Sunday, October 5th, the very day on which the 
first part of the pastoral was read from the pulpit, the 
Kreischef of Malines asked the Cardinal if he could re- 
ceive the chief of the diplomatic department, Baron von der 
Lancken, at 7 p. m. To this the Cardinal agreed. 

At the appointed hour the Baron presented himself at 
the Archbishop's house and was conducted to his Emi- 
nence. 

"I am in an extremely difficult position," said he. "I 
had hoped that your Eminence would do nothing to provoke 
fresh dispute, and had, in fact, communicated my impres- 
sion to the Governor General. And now he is intensely 
annoyed. 'You see,' said he to me, 'the Cardinal has 
again published a document, and in spite of my orders ig- 
nored the censorship and takes advantage of the occasion 
to meddle in politics.' " 

"I never promised you," answered the Cardinal, "to sub- 
mit to the censorship. You yourself were one day good 
enough to grant that it would be very difficult for me to do 
so and suggested many petty expedients for evading it, none 
of which satisfied me. The question therefore remained un- 



302 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

solved, and I informed you that I was preparing a letter 
for publication. You will recall our conversation and ac- 
knowledge that none of your suggested expedients appeared 
to me desirable. You particularly requested me to send you 
personally the first copy, not in manuscript but in proof. I 
replied, 'I am quite willing to send you a copy at the same 
time that I send the letter to my clergy, but on no account 
in advance. That would be tantamount to a tacit acknowl- 
edgment that I submit my letter to your good pleasure. 
That I cannot do.' " 

"But after all," replied the Baron, "could you not con- 
trive to let a proof copy be left behind on the table in one or 
other of the houses I am accustomed to visit in Brussels?" 

"No, I do not particularly care for these paltry expedi- 
ents which do not solve the problem. You would always 
have the right to say that I had in a covert manner recog- 
nized your right to censor a document essential to the exer- 
cise of my ministry. That is a matter of principle on which 
I cannot yield." 

"Yet we must find some means of coming to an under- 
standing." 

"For myself I see but one," answered the Cardinal, 
"that you affect not to notice what is going on and leave 
me with a free hand. I had understood, or, if you like that 
better, conjectured that such was your intention. Accords 
ingly I was not a little surprised to learn that the works of 
my printer had been raided by the German police." 

"It was not with the intention of seizing your letter; 
Smeesters was implicated in another affair." 

"As I was unaware of that, I was greatly surprised. I 
had intended to send you a copy of my letter as soon as 
it was in the hands of the various deans in Brussels, and I 
considered I had a right to expect from you its circulation 
without let or hindrance, for, after all, there is absolutely 
nothing in the letter to which you could take exception." 

"Nothing to offend me, perhaps, but the Governor Gen- 
eral, a soldier among soldiers, who, being obliged to con- 
sider the effect your writings may produce in Germany, 
thinks otherwise. He knows I have come to Malines; in 



"THE VOICE OF GOD" 303 

fact, we had a twenty minutes' conversation about this very 
letter and I can assure you he is greatly displeased." 

"But what has he to complain of?" 

"First of all, he takes exception to the phrase in which 
you affirm that 'nobody today calls the independence of Bel- 
gium into question.' " 

"But there is nothing mysterious in this assertion. Only 
this morning I read in the 'Nieuwe Rotterdamsche Courant' 
a declaration made by the Socialist deputy Haase to Chan- 
cellor von Bethmann-Hollweg. 'You speak of peace in 
vague terms which fall upon deaf ears. Begin by declaring 
that you agree to the autonomy of small states, such as Bel- 
gium and Serbia, and then your words will be listened to.' 
I do not take my stand on your feelings nor on those of the 
German empire when asserting my belief in the independ- 
ence of my country. My words were based principally on 
the solemn undertaking repeated over and over again by our 
allies that they will not consent to discuss peace until Bel- 
gium has been liberated. The Holy Father, whose name I 
mention with reluctance, said the same thing to me in Rome 
last January." 

"Again," replied the Baron, "you say at the end of your 
letter: 'Let us hasten the hour of our deliverance.' It is 
this last phrase especially that irritated the Governor Gen- 
eral." 

"Well, then, Baron, the Governor General does not un- 
derstand French. It lies with you, who understand and 
speak it, to explain fully to him the meaning this fragment 
of a phrase has when read in connection with its context. 
You have only to read the whole paragraph to perceive 
its real sense." 

"Oh, I have perused the letter four times." 

"Then read the paragraph again. Do you not see that 
these words were inserted therein to introduce the liturgical 
invocation, 'O Lord, make haste to help us' ? They merely 
imply that by means of prayer and penance we are to 
merit the help and deliverance of Almighty God. Are my 
words susceptible of any other interpretation?" 

"When I had read it over again I saw that the phrase 



304 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

could be understood in the sense your Eminence attaches to 
it, but the Governor General placed quite a different con- 
struction upon it." 

"For example?" 

"He took it to mean, 'Let us hasten to expel the Ger- 
mans.' " 

"Well," replied the Cardinal, "what is one to do? It 
is not my fault if he is not sensitive to the delicate shades 
of meaning in our language. And what else was there?" 

"Several allusions to current politics." 

"As for instance?" 

"First of all a reference to Poland, which in the eyes 
of the Governor General is political, though, personally, 
I must confess that this particular passage appeared to me 
quite inoffensive." 

"Obviously if Poland is to recover her independence just 
as many concessions must be made by Russia as by Ger- 
many. Then I say distinctly that the country has been laid 
waste by the advance or retirement of the armies." 

"What about the attack you made on the Turks?" 

"Pardon me," replied the Cardinal, "I did not attack 
the Turks, but I take up the cudgels for the Armenians. I 
have great compassion for their suffering, and as I am suf- 
fering with my fellow countrymen, I can sympathize with 
others in their trials. Is it not natural?" 

"But in your letter, your Eminence inveighs against the 
allies of Germany, and it is this which displeases the Gov- 
ernor General. Moreover, in a subsequent passage your 
Eminence asks prayers for your allies. Doubtless you refer 
to the British?" 

"The British, the French and all those who defend the 
same cause as ourselves. Can you imagine that there is a 
single Belgian Catholic who does not pray for them? But 
we pray also, I say, for our enemies. Do you wish that I 
should say for: 'Our armies on the western front'?" 

"Yes, that would do excellently." 

"Frankly, that borders on sophistry. If I did not fear 
to wound you, Baron, I should say that you wish to pick a 
quarrel with me (une querelle d'Allemand). 



"THE VOICE OF GOD" 305 

"But, come, tell me what your intention was in paying 
me this visit." 

u Oh, above all, to explain to your Eminence the dif- 
ficult position I am in." 

"Did you come on behalf of the Governor General with 
some order in your pocket or merely to ask me for an 
explanation?" 

"I have come with no order whatever. I fear compli- 
cations and that Smeesters will be punished for printing your 
pastoral." 

u But that disgusts me ! If my letter is criminal, I am 
the first person who should be punished. And if you do 
not punish me, it is unreasonable to punish an inferior, 
who has merely executed my orders. But since you leave 
me free to say what I think, I am quite willing to tell you 
that I do not consider the passage, which you condemn, of 
sufficient importance to provoke a public dispute and it 
would be painful to me to expose my printer to additional 
punishment. The game is not worth the candle. Let me 
consider the changes I can make. In a word, it is enough 
to cut out the words: 'the independence of Belgium is not 
doubted by any one' and 'let us hasten our deliverance' and 
substitute for: 'the armies of our allies' 'our armies.' I 
could make these alterations and it would cost me nothing, 
but then you would claim victory over me in your press." 

"Oh, no, certainly not." 

"The country clergy could not be warned in time, but I 
could inform the deans in the bigger towns, before the 
reading of the second part of the letter." * 

This question being settled, the Baron asked the Car- 
dinal to apply to him whenever he had any cause for com- 
plaint. "Is it not better," he said, "to avoid disagree- 
ments?" 

"Doubtless," replied the Cardinal. "I do not want to 

* The Cardinal requested Mgr. Evrard, dean of St. Gudule, to give no- 
tice of these changes before the reading of the second part of the letter, 
ordered for the following Sunday, to the deans of Brussels and district, 
including Laeken and Uccle, as well as the deans of Wavre, Nivelles, 
Braine-l'Alleux, Tubize, Hale and Vilvorde. He also advised the dean of 
Antwerp of the alterations and asked him to communicate them to the 
neighboring clergy. 



3 o6 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

quarrel any more than you, for the mere pleasure of it, but 
I believe that in spite of my good-will and yours a dispute 
is unavoidable." 

"Is your Eminence persuaded of that?" 

"Yes. Because the military authorities have a natural 
tendency to abuse their power against which my conscience 
must protest. You place a political construction on all our 
protests and so create discord." 

"But is it not better, in the interest of your country, to 
avoid protests which lead to no result?" 

"That is absolutely the fundamental question. You 
imagine that in our ministry we have no other ambition than 
to spare ourselves momentary worry and anxiety, or to 
win some immediate success. A thousand times no ! Utili- 
tarianism, even socially, is not our ideal. If St. Paul had 
spoken like you, we should never have had St. Paul. We 
should possess neither his epistles nor his example. If the 
theory, 'What is the good of that,' i. e., what practical ad- 
vantage do you hope to gain by that — if this theory, I say, 
had always prevailed we should not have had the Catholic 
Church. It required three centuries of martyrs to consoli- 
date and propagate the idea that there is something higher 
than individual and national interests." 

"Oh, the martyrs! that is another matter." 

"By no means, fundamentally it is the same thing. A 
martyr is not one who gives his life just for the pleasure of 
sacrifice; he is one who upholds an incontrovertible truth 
and makes himself its bond slave, even to offering his lib- 
erty and his life in its defense. It would have been easy 
for the martyrs to burn perchance secretly a few grains of 
incense "Before an idol. But this act, materially insignificant, 
yet for the moment very profitable to the doer, would have 
been an avowal that he had no absolute belief in the truth 
which he professed and at once the eternal would have been 
reduced to the level of the transitory. When the Church 
was founded, the truth preached was religious truth: the 
Gospel of Christ. Truth, today, is right and the superiority 
of its kingdom over passing interests. In either case, there 
is antagonism between utilitarianism and the necessary 



"THE VOICE OF GOD" 307 

triumph of absolute right — of truth. Thus I have nothing 
but contempt for those sophisms to which you in your recent 
correspondence, and with you certain theologians in their 
utterances, have had recourse, sheltering themselves behind 
the 'notwehr' for the purpose of justifying the invasion of 
our country. It is no use to argue; it is no use to twist 
and turn, Germany has violated an oath and it would be 
simpler to confess and regret it than to strive by might and 
main to hide the truth." 

With these words the interview ended. Baron von der 
Lancken took his leave, thanking the Cardinal for the 
changes he had agreed to make in the text of his pastoral. 



CHAPTER XXXI 

THE DEPORTATION OF THE UNEMPLOYED 

Of all the crimes committed by Germany in the occupied 
part of Belgium there is perhaps none more abominable 
than the deportation of the unemployed. In the light of the 
twentieth century the German Government, scorning all 
the laws of civilization, introduces again the slavery of days 
gone by. This crime against human liberty, long and cal- 
lously premeditated and perpetrated with untold cynicism 
and brutality, aroused the conscience of the whole world 
and drew down upon its authors well-deserved abhorrence. 
The Cardinal, as soon as he learned of the iniquitous 
steps taken by the Governor General in regard to the unem- 
ployed, hastened to address to Baron von Bissing an ener- 
getic protest. 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 

October igth, 1916. 
To His Excellency Baron von Bissing, Governor General, 
Brussels. 
Sir — The day following the capitulation of Antwerp 
the distracted population had serious misgivings regarding 
the lot of Belgians of military age and of those who would 
reach that age before the end of the occupation. The 
fathers and mothers of families, by their entreaties, induced 
me to put the question to the Governor of Antwerp, Baron 
von Huene, who had the kindness to reassure me and au- 
thorize me to reassure the anxious parents on this point. 
Nevertheless the report had spread through Antwerp that 
at Liege, at Namur and at Charleroi young men had been 
seized and forcibly carried off into Germany. I thereupon 
requested the Governor von Huene to be so good as to con- 

308 



DEPORTATION OF UNEMPLOYED 309 

firm in black and white the guarantee he had given me by 
word of mouth, that no action of the kind would be taken 
at Antwerp. Without delay he replied that the rumors 
relative to deportations were without foundation, and he 
immediately sent me in writing, among others, the following 
declaration : "Young men need have no fear of being car- 
ried off into Germany, either for enrollment in the army 
or to be there employed at compulsory work." 

This declaration, drawn up in writing and duly signed, 
was publicly communicated to the clergy and the faithful of 
the province of Antwerp, as your Excellency may convince 
yourself, by the document herewith inclosed, dated October 
1 6th, 1 9 14, and which was read in all the churches. 

Immediately on the arrival at Brussels of your predeces- 
sor, the late Baron von der Goltz, I had the honor of an 
interview with' him, and I requested him to be so good as 
to ratify in writing for the country at large, and without 
any time limit, the guarantee which General von Huene had 
given me for the province of Antwerp. 

The Governor General retained my petition in his own 
hands in order to examine it at his leisure. The following 
day he was kind enough to come in person to Malines and 
to bring me his approval, and he confirmed in the presence 
of two aides-de-camp and my private secretary the promise 
that the Belgian citizens' liberties would be respected. 

To doubt such a pledge would be to wrong the persons 
who had signed it, and I proceeded to dissipate, by every 
means of persuasion in my power, the alarm still prevailing 
among the families concerned. 

Now, heaven save the mark, your government snatches 
from their homes workmen, who, without fault of their own, 
are out of employment; it forcibly separates them from their 
wives and children and deports them into the enemy's coun- 
try. A host of workmen has already suffered this unhappy 
fate ; more still are threatened with the same violent treat- 
ment. 

On behalf of the liberty of the home and the liberty of 
employment of Belgian citizens, in the name of the inviola- 
bility of families, on behalf of the moral and religious inter- 



310 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

ests gravely compromised by this system of deportation, in 
virtue of the pledge given by the Governor of the province 
of Antwerp and by the Governor General, the immediate 
representative of the highest authority of the German em- 
pire, I respectfully beg your Excellency to consent to cancel 
the regulations for compulsory labor and deportation al- 
ready communicated to the Belgian workmen and to be good 
enough to restore to their homes those already deported. 

Your Excellency will understand how heavy a weight of 
responsibility I shall be compelled to bear in the eyes of 
families if the confidence established through my interven- 
tion and my request were to be rudely shaken. 

I cling to the belief that such will not be the case. 

Receive, sir, the assurance of my sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

At the same time that he protested to the Governor 
General the Cardinal wrote to Baron von der Lancken, 
chief of the political department, to entreat him to use all 
his influence to prevent the execution of the threatened 
measures. 

Archbishop' s House, Malines, 

October igth, 19 16. 
To Baron von der Lancken, Chief of the Political Depart- 
ment, Brussels. 

Dear Sir — I have had the honor of sending to his 
Excellency Baron von Bissing a letter of which I herein 
inclose a copy. 

The Governor General has so often expressed, even pub- 
licly, his wish to devote a large share of his solicitude to 
the interests of the occupied parts of the country, and you 
yourself have so often proclaimed, especially of late, the 
desire of the German authorities not to perpetuate, under 
the regime of occupation, the state of war of the early days, 
that I cannot believe the steps with which your government 
threatens the workmen, who, without any fault of their 
own, have been reduced to a state of unemployment, will be 
enforced. 



DEPORTATION OF UNEMPLOYED 311 

I trust that you will exert all your influence with the 
higher authorities to hinder the commission of such a 
crime. 

Do not allege the necessity of protecting public order or 
of lessening the burdens of public charity. Spare us this bit- 
ter irony. You know quite well that public order is not 
threatened and that every civil and moral force would 
spontaneously lend its aid were it really menaced. The un- 
employed are not a burden on any official charitable funds; 
it is not from your finances that they receive assistance. 

Kindly read my letter to the Governor General and 
consider if it is not as much to Germany's interest as it is 
ours to respect agreements entered into by two high per- 
sonalities of your empire. 

I am confident that my representations to the Governor 
General and yourself will be neither misunderstood nor dis- 
regarded, and I beg you to accept, Baron, the assurance of 
my sincere esteem. 

(Signed) r D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

The Governor General answered the Cardinal's protest 
with a refusal, while trying to justify the steps taken by the 
German Government. 

Government General of Belgium, Brussels, 

October 26th, 1916. 
To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of 
Malines. 
In your esteemed letter of the 19th inst. your Eminence 
makes the urgent request that the unemployed Belgian work- 
men should no longer be deported to Germany. While 
appreciating your Eminence's point of view, I feel at the 
same time compelled to reply that you have not examined 
in all its aspects the difficult problem of Belgian unemploy- 
ment. First of all, your Eminence does not consider in all 
their bearings the extraordinary circumstances arising from 
the war, which has now lasted more than two years. The 
steps now in progress, which your Eminence would wish 



312 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

to see suspended, are nothing but the necessary consequences 
of the war, as I hope now to prove. 

Your Eminence recalls first the declarations made in 
October, 19 14, by my predecessor and by the Governor of 
the fortress of Antwerp. These declarations referred to 
measures directly bearing on the operations of war, and 
they regarded chiefly men of military age, who, according 
to the ordinary usage of war, could have been deported 
as civil prisoners of war. England and France have seized, 
on neutral ships, all Germans between the ages of seventeen 
and fifty, and have interned them in concentration camps. 
Germany has taken no such steps in Belgium, and the assur- 
ances given to your Eminence, with a view to calming the 
civil population, have been uniformly respected. At any 
rate, that was a proof of the benevolent disposition with 
which the German Governor General had taken in hand 
the administration of the occupied territory. Later on, the 
departure in crowds of young men to join the Belgian army 
would have fully justified measures similar to those taken by 
England and France. And yet nothing was done. The re- 
moval of Belgian laborers to the German factories, which 
is only beginning after two years of war, has no connection 
in principle with the deportation and internment of men of 
military age. This step does not depend upon the conduct 
of the war as such, but it is based on economic and social 
grounds. 

As a result of the economical blockade which England 
has established against Germany, Belgium has been forced 
to endure more and more the privations which our country 
has to suffer. Belgium's economic life, which rests chiefly 
on the importation of raw materials and the export of 
manufactured goods, has been crushed by the blockade, de- 
prived as she is of the very basis of her commercial exist- 
ence. The inevitable result of this situation has been unem- 
ployment, which has extended to various classes of the 
population. The system of relief adopted could be rea- 
sonably applied to those out of work as long as it was 
thought that the war would end quickly, but the long dura- 
tion of the hostilities has brought about an abuse of this 



DEPORTATION OF UNEMPLOYED 313 

relief and has created unendurable social conditions. Far- 
seeing Belgians came to me in the spring of 19 15 and drew 
my attention to this point. They pointed out that this relief, 
no matter what might be the source of the funds placed at 
the disposal of the committees, would finally have to be 
borne by the Belgian budgets, without taking into account 
that these contributions would inevitably create in the work- 
ingman a habit of idleness. The result is that the work- 
men see their physical and moral capacity lessened and 
artisans of some ability have lost their technical skill and 
will be useless for Belgian industry when peace has been 
restored. On this account, and in order to do away with 
this prevalent apathy for work, I published with the ap- 
probation of the competent Belgian ministry my decrees of 
August, 191 5, which were completed by my order of May 
15th, 19 1 6. These decrees do not provide for forced labor, 
save in the case where an unemployed workman becomes a 
burden to the public relief funds by refusing unreasonably 
to do work at his trade when a reasonable wage is of- 
fered. We have recognized expressly as a lawful reason 
for refusal any motive based on international law. Thus 
no workman can be compelled to take part in war work. 
These orders rest, as your Eminence will acknowledge, on 
reasons fully justified in law which subordinate the freedom 
of the individual to the interest of the public. Now that 
the disadvantages resulting from the situation of 19 15 have 
developed to the point of becoming a veritable public calam- 
ity it is imperative to put these orders into execution. 

Your Eminence appeals in your esteemed letter to the 
exalted ideal of family life. I can assure you that I recog- 
nize this ideal just as fully as you do yourself, but I believe 
that in consequence of the duration of the war with its in- 
evitable effects, conditions of life growing daily worse, this 
idea runs a great risk of disappearing altogether from the 
life of the working classes, for idleness is the most dan- 
gerous enemy of family life. The workman who toils in 
foreign lands to support his wife and family, as was the 
case in peace time for many Belgians who quitted their own 
land to find work abroad, contributes assuredly more to the 



3H CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

happiness of his home than the idler who remains in Bel- 
gium. Besides, workmen who get employment in Germany 
may remain in close contact with their families and are 
given at regular intervals permission to visit their homes. 
They can even take their families with them to Germany, 
where they receive every spiritual care in their own tongue. 

A large number of Belgian people has, with good sense, 
thoroughly grasped the situation. Tens of thousands of 
Belgian workmen have quite voluntarily betaken themselves 
to Germany, where, placed on the same footing as the Ger- 
man workmen, they earn much higher wages than they 
have ever known in Belgium, and instead of perishing of 
want, like their comrades at home, they add to their own 
comfort and that of their families. Many others do not 
venture to follow their example, being held back by a con- 
spiracy of evil influences. Unless they free themselves be- 
times from these influences, they will, in virtue of my order, 
be compelled to work. The responsibility for the severe 
measures, which the adoption of constraint necessarily en- 
tails, falls upon those who are dissuading the workers from 
seeking employment. Finally, I entreat your Eminence, in 
order to realize the situation in all its complexity, to bear 
in mind the following important considerations : 

The English blockade has forced the occupied territories 
into a close economic union with Germany. Germany is 
today the only country with which Belgium maintains inter- 
course. 

Germany has not taken any steps to hinder payments 
being made in Belgium — a measure usually adopted in the 
case of enemy countries — and German money continues to 
pour into Belgium. This stream of money will be still 
more swollen by the workmen's salaries when they are 
employed in Germany. In short, the sums of money com- 
ing into Belgium as a result of the occupation exceed the 
war contributions, which — the fact is notorious — are entirely 
spent in the country. This community of interests, result- 
ing from circumstances, necessarily requires for the two 
countries an equality of economic factors. As on the one 
hand there are in Belgium hundreds of thousands of work- 



DEPORTATION OF UNEMPLOYED 315 

ers without employment, and on the other in Germany 
work is abundant, the employment in Germany of Belgians 
who are out of work becomes a social and economic duty, 
imposed by the solidarity of interests in which the two 
countries are knit. Any protests which may be raised 
against this state of things ought to be addressed to Eng- 
land, which, by the blockade she has imposed on Germany, 
has brought about a constrained situation. 

Your Eminence, keeping in mind all that I have said, 
will admit that the question of deportations forms a problem 
which should be studied from many standpoints. I should 
be content if your Eminence, as a result of my summary, 
would weigh this question, as is needful, from the social 
and economic point of view. 

I present to your Eminence the expression of my sincere 
esteem. 

(Signed) Baron von Bissing, 

Lieutenant General. 

The rigorous measures, far from being relaxed after 
the protestations which arose on all sides, were only ex- 
tended further. The German authorities, failing to obtain 
from the parochial authorities the lists which they had called 
for of unemployed, took the opportunity of deporting all 
healthy men. In face of these more and more outrageous 
proceedings, the Cardinal, in the name of the Belgian 
bishops, appealed to the public opinion of the whole world 
and drew up the following terrible charge against the 
German Government: 



CRY OF ALARM RAISED BY BELGIAN BISHOPS AND ADDRESSED 
BY THEM TO THE BELGIAN PUBLIC 

M alines, Nov. 7 th, 19 16. 

The military authorities are daily deporting into Ger- 
many from Belgium thousands of inoffensive citizens to 
subject them there to compulsory labor. 

As far back as October 19th we sent to the Governor 



316 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

General a protest, a copy of which was forwarded to the 
Holy See, to Spain, to the United States, to Holland, to 
Brussels, but the Governor General answered that he was 
debarred from receiving it. At the date of our protest the 
government regulations threatened only the unemployed. 
Today all able-bodied men are taken indiscriminately, 
penned in military wagons and carted off, no one knows 
where, like a band of slaves. 

The enemy proceeds in his work by districts. Vague 
reports have reached us that men had been arrested in 
the war zone, at Tournay, Ghent, Alost; but we know not 
m what circumstances. Between October 24th and Novem- 
ber 2d he operated in the district of Mons, Quievrain, Saint- 
Ghislain, Jemappes, making a clean sweep of eight hundred 
to twelve hundred men daily. Now he intends to pounce 
upon the arrondissement of Nivelles. 

Here is a sample of a placard announcing the attempt: 

"By order of the Kreischef, all male persons over seven- 
teen years of age are bound to appear in St. Paul's Square, 
Nivelles, on the 8th of November at 8 o'clock (Belgian 
time) and 9 o'clock (central time), furnished with their 
identity papers and, in case it may be wanted, with their 
card from the 'Meldeamt' 

"They must bring with them only a small hand-bag. 

"Any one who refuses to present himself will be forcibly 
deported to Germany and will also be liable to a heavy fine 
and a long term of imprisonment. 

"Ecclesiastics, doctors, lawyers and schoolmasters are 
exempted. 

"The burgomasters will be held responsible for the due 
execution of this order, which must at once be made known 
to the inhabitants. 

"An interval of twenty-four hours will be allowed be- 
tween the posting of the notice and the deportation itself." 

On the plea of carrying out public works in Belgium the 
authority in occupation had endeavored to obtain from the 
communes a list of unemployed workmen. With this order 



DEPORTATION OF UNEMPLOYED 317 

the great majority of the communes boldly refused to com- 
ply. 

Three decrees of the government gradually prepared us 
for the blow that has fallen on us today. 

On August 15th, 191 5, the first decree came out impos- 
ing, under penalty of fine and imprisonment, compulsory la- 
bor on unemployed workmen, declaring, however, that the 
work contemplated was to be done in Belgium only and that 
breaches of the order would be brought before Belgian law 
courts. 

A second decree of May 2, 19 16, reserves to the Ger- 
man authorities the right to provide work for the unem- 
ployed and threatened with a penalty of three years' im- 
prisonment and a fine of 20,000 marks any one that carries 
out work not sanctioned by the Governor General. 

A decree dated May 13th, 19 16, authorizes the gover- 
nors and military commandants and the chiefs of arrondis- 
sements to order idle workmen to be forcibly taken to the 
place where they have to work. Compulsory work had al- 
ready\begun, but in Belgium only. 

Today it is no longer a question of compulsory work to 
be carried out in Belgium, but in Germany also, for the 
benefit of the Germans. 

To impart an air of sweet reasonableness to these vio- 
lent measures the occupying power alleges in the German 
press, both of Germany and Belgium, as a pretext for these 
measures, chiefly two reasons: Idle workmen constitute a 
danger to public order, and they are a charge on the treas- 
ury. 

The letter we addressed on October 16th to the Gov- 
ernor General and to the chief of his political cabinet has 
the following: "You know full well that public order is 
not menaced, and that were it in danger every influence, 
moral and civil, would spontaneously be offered for its 
maintenance. Again, the unemployed are not a burden on 
the bounty of the state; the assistance they receive comes 
from no funds of yours." 

In his reply the Governor General no longer insists on 
the two previous allegations, but maintains that the sums 



318 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

given to the unemployed from whatever source they come 
must eventually burden our finances and that it is the task 
of a good administrator to lessen such charges, adding that 
the prolongation of unemployment would impair our work- 
men's technical skill and on the return of peace they would 
be of no use for any industry whatever. He does not men- 
tion other means of protecting our finances, for instance, to 
spare us the forced contributions which at the present mo- 
ment reach the sum of £40,000,000 and is continually aug- 
mented by a monthly increase of 40,000,000 francs. We 
might be spared the requisitions in kind which total several 
milliards and are exhausting the country. 

There were other means, too, for maintaining unim- 
paired our artisans' technical skill. To leave us, for in- 
stance, our machines and equipment, as well as our raw 
materials and manufactured goods which have left Bel- 
gium for Germany, and perhaps quarries and limekilns, 
where the Germans themselves declare that they intend to 
send the unemployed. Are not, after all, these the best 
schools for completing the technical education of our skilled 
artisans? 

The unvarnished truth is that every deported workman 
is an additional soldier for the German army. He will take 
the place of a German workman who will straightway join 
the army. 

Thus the situation which we denounce to the civilized 
world comes to this: Four hundred thousand workmen 
find themselves against their will unemployed, chiefly be- 
cause of the regime put into force by the occupying power. 
Sons, husbands, fathers of families, always mindful of pub- 
lic order, bear their unhappy lot uncomplainingly. The 
whole nation united provides for their most pressing needs. 
By dint of economy and wholesale privations, they manage 
to escape extreme misery and await with self-respect, sprung 
from an intimacy which the national mourning has forged 
among them, the termination of our common trials. 

Bands of soldiers force their way into their peaceful 
homes, drag young men from their parents, the husband 
from his wife, the father from his children, guard every 



DEPORTATION OF UNEMPLOYED 319 

door and avenue by which wives and mothers are able to 
issue to bid a last farewell, form their captives into troops 
of forty and fifty, thrust them by force into military 
wagons; the locomotive has steam up, and as soon as the 
train is filled a superior officer gives the signal for depar- 
ture. Behold another thousand Belgians reduced to slavery 
and without trial or sentence condemned to the severest 
punishment of the penal code, only second to the penalty 
of death, namely, deportation. They know not where they 
are going nor for how long; all they know is that their 
work is to benefit the enemy. From several, some by cajol- 
ery and others by threats, they extort an undertaking to 
work, which they dare to call voluntary. 

There is no doubt they enroll the unemployed; but, on 
the other hand, they recruit in great numbers — in the case 
of the arrondissement of Mons, quite a fourth — men who 
have never been unemployed and belong to trades of very 
different categories — butchers, bakers, master tailors, brew- 
ers, electricians, farmers; they take even young men, college 
and university students, or those attending the higher 
schools. 

Yet two high authorities of the German empire had ex- 
pressly guaranteed to us the liberty of our fellow coun- 
trymen. 

On the day following the capitulation of Antwerp the 
distracted population was filled with alarm regarding the lot 
of the Belgians of military age or of those who would reach 
that age before the end of the occupation. Baron von 
Huene, military governor of Antwerp, authorized me to re- 
assure in his name the distressed parents. Nevertheless, 
as a report was circulated at Antwerp that at Liege, at 
Namur, at Charleroi, young men had been taken and forci- 
bly carried off to Germany, I begged the Governor to be so 
good as to confirm in writing the verbal pledges he had 
given me. He replied that the rumors relative to the depor- 
tation were void of foundation and he gave me, without 
hesitation, this declaration in writing, which was read on 
Sunday, October 13th, 19 14, in all the parish churches of 
the province of Antwerp : "Young men need have no fear 



3 20 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

of being taken off to Germany either to be enrolled in the 
army, or to be there employed in compulsory labor." 

Immediately on the arrival of Baron von der Goltz as 
Governor General at Brussels, I went to request him to be 
so good as to ratify for the country at large without limit 
of time the pledges given by Governor von Huene for the 
province of Antwerp. The Governor General retained my 
petition in his hands to examine it at his leisure. The fol- 
lowing day he was kind enough to bring to Malines in per- 
son his approval and renewed in the presence of two aides- 
de-camp and my private secretary the promise that Belgian 
citizens' liberty would be respected. 

In my letter of October ist last to Baron von Bissing, 
after recalling the understanding come to by his predeces- 
sor, I concluded as follows: "Your Excellency will under- 
stand how painful the burden of my responsibility will be- 
come in the eyes of Belgian families if the confidence re- 
posed in you by my intervention and at my instance should 
be rudely shaken." 

The Governor General answered: "The employment 
of Belgians, out of work, in Germany, which has begun 
only after two years of warfare, differs essentially from 
the internment of men fit to bear arms. The measure has 
no relation to the conduct of the war properly so called, 
but has been brought about by social and economic causes." 

Just as though, forsooth, the engagements of a man of 
honor were, like a lease, subject to revision at the end of 
one or two years, and as though the declaration issued in 
19 14 did not expressly exclude alike the operations of war 
and forced labor, as though finally every Belgian workman 
who takes the place of a German laborer does not con- 
tribute to replen&sh the depleted ranks of the German 
army. 

We, shepherds of these sheep snatched from us by 
brute force, harassed as we are at the idea of the moral 
and religious isolation which they will have to endure, im- 
potent witnesses of the sorrows and dismay of so many 
homes broken up or threatened with this calamity, we turn 
toward those souls whether believing or unbelieving, who, in 



DEPORTATION OF UNEMPLOYED 321 

the allied or neutral countries, or even in enemy lands, enter- 
tain respect for the dignity of man. 

When Cardinal Lavigerie undertook his campaign 
against slavery, Pope Leo XIII, blessing his mission, said 
to him : "Opinion is more than ever today the ruling power 
of the world; it is upon it you must act. You will conquer 
only by force of opinion." 

May divine Providence deign to give to some one, to 
some authority, a phrase, a pen, to cause men to flock to 
our humble Belgian standard for the abolition of European 
slavery. 

"Honor before all things." (Nihil praeferendum 
honestati.) 

Signed on behalf of the Belgian bishops * 

D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 
Archbishop of Malines. 

The Governor General had attempted to justify the con- 
demnation of the Belgian working classes to penal servitude 
and deportation. In his reply the Cardinal refutes all the 
arguments brought forward by Baron von Bissing for de- 
fending the German Government, and proves, in a peremp- 
tory manner, the anti-juridical and anti-social character of 
the deportation of the unemployed. 

Archbishop' s House, Malines, 

November 10th, 19 16. 
To His Excellency Baron von Bissing, Governor General, 
Brussels. 
Sir — I refrain from expressing to your Excellency the 
sentiments awakened in me by your letter (1,100051) in 
answer to the letter I addressed to you October 19th regard- 
ing the deportation of the unemployed. 

I have a melancholy recollection of the phrase, which 
your Excellency, emphasizing each syllable, pronounced in 
my presence on your arrival at Brussels. "I hope our rela- 
tions will be cordial. ... I have received a mission to heal 
the wounds of Belgium," 

My letter of October 19th recalled to your Excellency's 

* We were unable to communicate with the Bishop of Brussels. 



322 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

memory the undertaking given by Baron von Huene, mili- 
tary governor of Antwerp, and ratified some days later 
by Baron von der Goltz, your predecessor in the General 
Government at Brussels. 

The undertaking was explicit, unconditional, without 
limit of time. "Young men need not fear being carried off 
to Germany, either to be enrolled in the army or to be there 
employed in compulsory labor." 

This understanding has been broken daily and thou- 
sands of times for more than a fortnight. 

Baron von Huene and the late Baron von der Goltz did 
not speak with any qualification as your dispatch of October 
26th seemed to imply: "If the occupation does not last 
more than two years, men fit for military service shall not 
be placed in captivity." They stated absolutely: "Young 
men, and still more men of riper age, shall not at any time 
during the occupation be imprisoned or employed in com- 
pulsory labor." 

To justify yourself your Excellency quotes the conduct 
of England and France, who have, you say, taken from neu- 
tral ships all Germans between seventeen and fifty years 
of age and interned them in concentration camps. 

If England and France have been guilty of an injus- 
tice, it is on the English and the French that you should 
have inflicted reprisals, not on. an innocent and disarmed 
people. 

But has there been any injustice ? Imperfectly informed 
as we are of all that takes place outside the walls of our 
prison, we are tempted to believe that the Germans taken 
and interned belonged to the reserve of the imperial army. 
They were therefore soldiers whom England and France 
were justified in sending to concentration camps. Belgium 
has only recently, that is since August, 19 13, had universal 
military service; the Belgians, therefore, from seventeen to 
fifty years of age residing in the occupied part of Belgium 
are civilians and noncombatants. It is a mere play on words 
to liken them to German reservists in applying to them the 
misleading appellation "men fit for military service." 

The orders, public notices, comments in the press de- 



DEPORTATION OF UNEMPLOYED 323 

signed to prepare public opinion for the measures being put 
at this moment into execution, have placed in the forefront 
two considerations. The unemployed, it was said, are a 
danger to public security; they are a burden on the state. 

It is not true, as said before in my letter of October 
19th, that our workmen have upset or simply threatened 
anywhere to disturb public order. Five million Belgians, 
hundreds of Americans, are wonder-struck witnesses of the 
self-respect and unfailing patience of our working classes. 

It is not true that workers deprived of work are a bur- 
den on the occupying power or on the benevolent funds over 
which its administration presides. The national commit- 
tee to which the occupying power makes no contribution is 
the sole means by which victims of enforced idleness are 
assisted. 

These two answers have been left without reply. 

The letter of October 26th seeks another method of 
justification. It alleges that the measure by which the un- 
employed have been struck so grievously has been "brought 
about by social and economic causes." 

"It is because it has at heart more earnestly and more 
intelligently than ourselves the interest of the Belgian na- 
tion that the German Government rescues the laborer from 
idleness and saves him from losing his technical skill. Com- 
pulsory labor is the price to be paid for the economic advan- 
tages procured by our commercial exchanges with the em- 
pire. 

"Moreover, if the Belgian has to complain of this state 
of affairs, let him address his complaints to England. She 
is the great criminal. She by her policy of isolation has 
brought about this restricted measure." 

Every Belgian workman sets free a German workman 
who will become an additional soldier for the German army. 
It is this fact in all its nakedness that dominates the situa- 
tion. The author of the letter himself feels this glaring 
fact, for he writes : "The measure has no connection what- 
ever with the conduct of the war properly so called." It 
has, therefore, a connection with the war improperly so 
called. What does this mean except that the Belgian work- 



324 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

man does not indeed bear arms, but frees the hands of the 
Germans who will take up arms. The Belgian worker is 
constrained to co-operate indirectly. This is in palpable 
contradiction with the spirit of The Hague convention. 
Again the lack of work is not the fault of the Belgian work- 
man, nor of England; it is an effect of the German occupa- 
tion and its regime. 

The occupying power has taken possession of consider- 
able supplies of raw materials destined for our national 
industry; it has seized and sent off to Germany the tools, 
the machines and metals of our workshops and factories. 
The very possibility of national work being thus eliminated, 
there remained for the workman but one alternative: to 
work for the German empire either here or in Germany, 
or to remain idle. Some tens of thousands of workmen 
under the pressure of fear or famine agreed, under con- 
straint for the most part, to work for the foreigner: but four 
hundred thousand workmen preferred to give themselves 
over to idleness with all its attendant privations rather than 
to do an ill-service to their country. They lived in poverty 
with the help of slender assistance allowed them by the 
national committee of help and alimentation, under the con- 
trol of the protecting ministers of Spain, America and Hol- 
land. Calm and self-respecting, they bore without a mur- 
mur their painful lot. Nowhere was there any rising or sign 
of rising; master and workmen awaited with patience the 
end of our protracted trial. 

Nevertheless communal administrations and private in- 
itiative endeavored to lessen the undeniable inconvenience of 
unemployment. But the occupying power paralyzed all 
their efforts. The national committee endeavored to organ- 
ize a course of technical instruction for the benefit of the 
unemployed. This scheme of instruction, characterized by a 
tender regard for the workman's self-respect, wished to 
take him by the hand, to enlarge his capacity for work and 
thus prepare the way for the country's resurrection. Who 
thwarted this noble enterprise, the plan of which had been 
carefully thought out by the great captains of industry? 
Who? Why, the power in occupation. Nevertheless the 



DEPORTATION OF UNEMPLOYED 325 

communes did their best to initiate works of practical utility 
to be carried out by the unemployed. These the Governor 
General would not permit without his previous sanction, a 
sanction which he generally refused. I am told that the 
Governor General in not a few cases graciously gave his 
permission for works of this kind with the express stipula- 
tion that the unemployed should not be engaged on them. 

In fact, they wanted unemployment. The German army 
indirectly was recruited from the ranks of those out of work. 

No, the Belgian workman is far from lazy; nay, he wor- 
ships labor. In all the economic struggles of modern times 
he has proved his worth. When he rejected posts com- 
manding a big salary offered him by the occupying authority, 
he did so from patriotic self-respect. We shepherds of the 
people, intimately acquainted with their sorrows and anxie- 
ties, we know with what great cost they preferred independ- 
ence coupled with privation to comfort and ease linked with 
subjection. 

The letter of October 29 boldly states that the nation 
chiefly to blame for the unemployment of our workmen is 
England, because she hinders raw materials from entering 
Belgium. 

England generously allows foodstuffs to enter Belgium 
under the control of neutral states — Spain, the United States 
and Holland. She would certainly under the same control 
permit the entrance of raw materials required by our indus- 
tries, provided Germany would consent to our retaining 
them and did not pounce on our manufactured goods. 

But Germany by various methods, notably by the cun- 
ning organization of her "Centrales," over which no Belgian 
or any one of the protecting ministers exercises any offi- 
cial control, absorbs a considerable quantity of our agri- 
cultural produce and of the country's manufactured goods. 
The result is a disquieting rise in the cost of living, the cause 
of painful privations to those who have used up their sav- 
ings or never had any. The community of interests, the 
advantage of which the letter lauds to the skies, is not the 
normal equilibrium of commercial exchange, but the pre- 
dominance of the strong over the weak. 



326 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

As to this condition of economic inferiority to which we 
are reduced, do not, I pray, represent it to us as a privilege 
that justifies forced labor for our enemy's profit, and coun- 
terbalances the deportation of legions of innocent beings into 
a land of exile. 

After the penalty of death, slavery — deportation — is the 
heaviest punishment known to the penal code. 

Belgium, that has never done you any harm, has she 
deserved at your hands this treatment calling to heaven for 
vengeance ? 

Sir, I recalled at the outset your whole utterance: "I 
have come to Belgium with a mission to heal the country's 
wounds." 

Two years ago the excuse made for death, pillage and 
conflagration was that it was war. Perhaps for one party, 
whom charity too kindly excused, it was the intoxication of 
opening victories. Today it is war no longer. It is frigid 
calculation, deliberate destruction, the empire of force over 
right, the abasement of human nature, a challenge to human- 
ity. It lies with your Excellency to stop these cries of con- 
science in revolt. 

Receive, sir, the homage of our sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J.. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

The preceding letter having been returned to the arch- 
bishop's house by the postal authorities because unstamped, 
the Cardinal sent it a second time to Baron von Bissing 
with the following note : 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 

November I2th, 191 6. 
To His Excellency Baron von Bissing, Governor General, 
Brussels. 
Your Excellency — The inclosed letter, dated November 
10th, will reach your Excellency late, because it has been 
returned to me. It had been posted unstamped. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 



DEPORTATION OF UNEMPLOYED 327 

The Governor General shirked the discussion. To the 
closely knitted arguments of the Cardinal he merely op- 
posed his former considerations, as expounded, almost word 
for word, in his despatch of October 26th. 

Government General of Belgium, Brussels, 

November 23rd, 19 16. 
To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of Malines. 

I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your Eminence's es- 
teemed letter of the 10th inst., also the note which you sent 
on the 15th inst. to explain the delay in the arrival of your 
letter. My answer is as follows : 

Your Eminence wrote to me on the 19th of October last 
with the object of putting an end to the deportation of Bel- 
gian unemployed into Germany. In my reply of October 
19th, while fittingly realizing your Eminence's standpoint, 
I set forth the reasons which induced the occupying power 
to form its decisions respecting the unemployed. These 
decisions were not come to arbitrarily, nor without ample 
investigation of this difficult problem, but were on the con- 
trary the result of an exhaustive study of all the aspects of 
this question. The necessity of the steps taken was recog- 
nized as unavoidable. In short, I feel justified in referring 
your Eminence to the considerations which I set out in my 
letter of October 26th. The reasons you allege for com- 
bating them rest either on the mistaken interpretation you 
give them, or are derived from theories which from their 
very nature I cannot admit, for such widespread unemploy- 
ment in Belgium is a serious sore in the body politic, and 
from this point of view a benefit would be conferred on the 
unemployed if work were provided for them in Germany. 
In this sense the steps taken are by no means contrary to the 
desire I expressed to your Eminence the very moment I ar- 
rived in Belgium, to remedy the evils the war has inflicted 
on the Belgian people. I must also maintain that your Emi- 
nence fails to understand the reality of facts, when you seek 
to deny my efforts to restore the economic life of Belgium, 
efforts which have often been crowned with success, and also 
when you say that, so far from favoring the restoration of 



328 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

industry, the occupying power has endeavored to create 
an artificial state of unemployment. England has imposed 
unacceptable conditions on the importation of raw materials 
into Belgium and on the exportation of manufactured goods. 
These questions were at the proper moment the subject 
of constant negotiations with the competent authorities of 
Belgium and neutral countries. I will not enter into details ; 
that would take me too far afield. I content myself with 
repeating that in their ultimate analysis the deplorable con- 
ditions that obtain in Belgium are a result of the English 
blockade just as the confiscation of raw material was a 
measure also dictated by that policy. Again, I am abso- 
lutely convinced that from the economic point of view the 
occupying power guarantees to Belgium all the advantages 
which can be secured for her, taking into account the dis- 
tress caused by England. 

In carrying out the steps taken with regard to the un- 
employed, my officials have met with a long series of diffi- 
culties entailing annoyances, which have reacted also upon 
the whole population. All that could have been avoided, 
had the various municipal bodies shown good will and facili- 
tated the execution of these measures. 

In the actual circumstances it was needful to adopt more 
general measures, the first result of which was to oblige per- 
sons other than the unemployed to answer the roll-call. But 
arrangements were made to preclude all possibility of error, 
but those belonging to certain professions were dispensed 
from appearing, while genuine appeals are either heard at 
once or passed on for investigation. 

From all the above facts, your Eminence will perceive 
the impossibility of complying with your desire to put a 
stop to the line of action we have decided upon, but, on the 
contrary, the execution of these measures, in spite of all the 
difficulties we meet with, will be carried out in the best in- 
terests of all. 

(Signed) Baron von Bissing, 

Lieutenant General. 



DEPORTATION OF UNEMPLOYED 329 

In a fresh letter to Baron von Bissing, the Cardinal 
maintains that his arguments have been left unanswered; he 
protests once more against the brutal way in which the re- 
cruiting of the so-called unemployed everywhere takes place. 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 

November 29th, 1916. 
To His Excellency Baron von Bissing, Governor General of 
Belgium. 

The letter which your Excellency does me the honor 
to write me, dated November 23rd, is disappointing. In 
several circles, that I had reason to believe well informed, 
it was asserted that your Excellency had felt it your duty 
to lay a protest before the highest authorities of the empire 
against the regulations you were forced to apply to Belgium. 
I counted, therefore, on at least some delay in the applica- 
tion of these measures, pending a fresh examination, and in 
a mitigation in the method of executing them. 

But lo and behold ! without a word of answer to any one 
of the arguments by which I proved in my letters of October 
19th and November 10th the illegal and anti-social nature 
of the condemnation of the Belgian workingmen to forced 
labor and deportation, your Excellency confines yourself to 
repeating in your letter of November 23rd the very text of 
your letter of October 26th. These two letters are, in fact, 
identical both in matter and form. 

On the other hand the recruiting of the so-called un- 
employed is carried out most of the time without any re- 
gard to the observations of the local authorities. Many 
reports I hold in my hands bear witness that the clergy are 
brutally kept at a distance, the mayors and local councilors 
silenced; the recruiting officers find themselves in the pres- 
ence of individuals unknown to them and arbitrarily make 
their choice from among their number. Instances of this 
abound. I will give you two recent examples from a crowd 
of others which I hold at your Excellency's service. 

On November 21st the recruiting of forced labor took 
place in the village of Kersbeek-Miscom. Of the 1,325 
inhabitants of the commune, the recruiting officers took away 



330 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

ninety-four in a body without distinction of social status 
or profession; farmers' sons, men who have to support aged 
and infirm parents, fathers of families who left wife and 
children in want; men who were as needful to their families 
as their daily bread. Two families, both of them, saw four 
sons carried off at the same time. Of the ninety-four thus 
deported, only two^were really unemployed. 

In the region of Aerschot the recruiting took place on 
November 23rd. At Rillaer, Gelrode and Rotselaer young 
men who supported their widowed mothers, farmers, the 
heads of numerous families — one of them more than fifty 
years of age with ten children — cultivating the land and 
owning several head of cattle, who had never received a 
penny from public charity, were taken away by force in spite 
of all their protests. In the little village of Rillaer, as many 
as twenty-five young lads of seventeen were taken away. 

Your Excellency would have wished that the communal 
authorities be accomplices in these odious recruitings ; neither 
their legal position nor their conscience would allow them 
to do so. But they could have enlightened the "recruiters" 
and are specially qualified for that. Priests, who know the 
common people better than any one else, could render these 
officials valuable help. Why is their assistance refused? 

At the end of your letter your Excellency reminds me 
that professional men are not molested. If only the unem- 
ployed were taken away I could understand this exception. 
But if the able-bodied are enrolled indiscriminately that 
exception is unfair. It would be iniquitous to throw the 
whole burden of deportation on the working classes. The 
middle classes ought also to share in the sacrifice imposed 
on the nation by the occupying power, however cruel this 
sacrifice may be, and justly so, because it is cruel. Numbers 
of my clergy have entreated me to demand for them a place 
in the vanguard of the persecuted. I record this request 
and submit it to you with pride. 

I still wish to believe that the authorities of the empire 
have not said their last word, that they will not be unmind- 
ful of our undeserved sorrows, of the reprobation of the 



DEPORTATION OF UNEMPLOYED 331 

civilized world, of the verdict of history and of the chastise- 
ment of God. 

Accept, Excellency, the expression of my sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

The Governor General commissioned the chief of the 
political department to acknowledge receipt of the Cardi- 
nal's letter of November 29th, reserving the right of answer- 
ing it himself later on. 

Political Department of the Government General of Bel- 
gium, Brussels. December $th, 19 16. 
To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of Malines. 

I have the honor to* inform your Eminence that the 
Governor General has noted with interest the remarks anent 
the question of the unemployed, which you made in your 
letter of the 29th inst., nevertheless, in consequence of a 
brief absence, he will be unable to reply for some days. To 
my great regret the pardon of F. Franch,* of Malines, can- 
not be granted for the present. But when he has served 
half his sentence, then, if your Eminence wishes to present 
a request in his behalf, I have reason to hope that it will 
be crowned with success. I present to your Eminence the 
expression of my sincere esteem, and I am yours devotedly, 

(Signed) Lancken. 

Von Bissing, in spite of his promise, did not answer the 
letter of November 29th. He confined himself to inform- 
ing the Cardinal, through Baron von der Lancken, that he 
could not accept the help offered by the priests in the work 
of enrolling the unemployed. 

Political Department of the Government General of Bel~ 

gium, Brussels. December gth, 19 16. 

To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of Malines. 
In reply to your esteemed letter of November 27th 

* F. Franch, in religion F. Servasius, Superior of the Franciscans at 
Malines, had been sentenced to a year's imprisonment on a charge of 
having had printed a poem offensive to the Germans. In a letter dated 
November n the Cardinal interceded in his favor. 



332 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

last, I have the honor to inform your Eminence that the 
Governor General, after investigating the case, has been 
unable to make use of his right of reprieve in favor of the 
Engineer Uytebroek and the Railwayman Mertens, con- 
demned to death for espionage. In regard to Wanty, no 
definite decision can be taken until it has been ascertained 
by medical examination whether he is of sound mind and 
therefore responsible for his actions.* 

The Governor General instructs me to inform your Emi- 
nence, in reply to your letter of November 29th, that he is 
unfortunately unable to grant to priests a kind of official 
co-operation in recruiting the unemployed. But, taking into 
account the reasons assigned by your Eminence, the Gover- 
nor General leaves the priests free to attend the offices of the 
recruiting authorities and there impart their information 
and express their wishes before the enrollment is begun. 

I present to your Eminence the expression of my sincere 
esteem. 

(Signed) Lancken. 

Several days later the Cardinal sent the parish priests 
of his diocese the following instructions: 

"In spite of the protests addressed to Germany by the 
Sovereign Pontiff and several neutral states, the deportation 
of our civil population still continues. It is our duty to les- 
sen to the best of our ability an evil we are powerless to 
prevent. 

"The moment that notices to assemble are placarded in 
your parish, please warn persons who do not depend on pub- 
lic assistance to provide themselves with a receipt for the 
payment of this year's taxes, duly certified by the communal 
authorities. The sick and delicate must ask their doctor 
for a certificate of ill health; workmen who are employed 
must ask their masters for a declaration, countersigned by 
the burgomaster, that they are in employment. 

"Acting in concert with influential persons of your par- 
ish, take specially to heart the interests of those parishioners 

♦The Cardinal interceded on behalf of the condemned men in a letter 
addressed to Baron von der Lancken, dated November 27. 



DEPORTATION OF UNEMPLOYED 333 

who, according to the instructions of the German authori- 
ties, are exempt from deportation. Then take joint action 
with the communal authorities, the national committee for 
relief and food supplies, and your well-to-do and devout 
parishioners, in order to provide for the indigent, whose 
departure is probable, clothes and other necessaries. 

"On the eve of their departure, or the day before, invite 
those who are going off to come to confession. Provide an 
adequate number of confessors for them, celebrate mass 
for their intention, to which you will be careful to summon 
their children, grandchildren and interested adults, to the 
end that the communion made by them, together with their 
whole family, may prove a comfort to them and a memory 
which they can carry away with them into exile. In a suit- 
able instruction, exhort them to remain steadfast in their 
faith and their moral and religious practices during the 
period of their absence. At home prayers will be recited 
for them. Give those who are going away a rosary, a 
scapular and a New Testament. 

"The day following their departure make an appeal to 
the best of your charitable parishioners, both men and 
women, get into contact with the St. Vincent de Paul Society, 
with the Ladies of Mercy, the Third Order of St. Francis, 
the congregations and confraternities, the manifold societies 
affiliated with the diocesan Federation of Catholic Women, 
of which the Abbe Halflants is the director, and form with 
their help and under the direction of the parish priest or 
his delegate a committee of moral assistance, who will un- 
dertake to visit stricken families, to comfort, advise and help 
them. Give them moral support and help them materially, 
if need be. A Christian parish forms one family. When 
in a family one member suffers, all suffer; when it enjoys 
prosperity, every one shares therein. And so not one single 
home in the parish should be left out, unknown or forgotten. 
If this were desirable in normal times, it should be abso- 
lutely necessary in these distressing days. Those who have 
leisure ought to place themselves at the disposal of those 
who have none. The superfluity of some ought to minister 
to the wants of others. Mutual help so understood and 



334 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

practiced is but the fulfillment of the law of Christ. Bear 
ye one another's burdens, says the Apostle Paul, and so 
you shall fulfill the law of Christ. 

"The parish priests who are in need of some help in their 
ministry of charity may come or send some one to me for it, 
but I should like them to be good enough to fix approxi- 
mately the amount of help they require. We must leave 
no stone unturned to effect the repatriation of those who, 
according to the German Government's declarations, ought 
to be immune from deportation. To that end, a committee 
has been organized in our Episcopal Curia to deal with 
cases calling for redress." 

From the very beginning of the occupation, the Cardinal 
had over and over again begged both the military and eccle- 
siastical authorities of the empire for permission to send 
Belgian priests to prison camps in Germany, but in vain. 
Undaunted by the successive rebuffs he met with, he returns 
once more to the attack on behalf of the victims of this sys- 
tem of deportation; he appeals to the German bishops and 
entreats them to use their influence to obtain permission for 
Belgian priests to go into the land of exile, so as to afford 
the unfortunate deported the consolations of religion. 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 

January 23rd, 19 17. 

Most Eminent Lords — I pray God to enlighten your 
Eminences so that you may recognize the spirit of charity in 
which this letter is written and be inspired to read it in the 
same light. I cannot forget that my previous correspond- 
ence was received by you with undeserved distrust, but now 
that I have to deal with interests so exclusively religious, my 
Christian confidence triumphs over my fears. 

Your Eminences are aware that there are some thou- 
sands of military and civil Belgians — we do not know the 
exact number — confined in the German prisons. Informa- 
tion reaches us from time to time bringing the sad news that 
a considerable number of them have 'gradually abandoned 
their religious practices. One of the reasons for this pro- 



DEPORTATION OF UNEMPLOYED 335 

gressive indifference is the antipathy inspired in them by 
chaplains whose language is a constant reminder of a bel- 
ligerent nation and a sorrowful past. It avails little to say 
that the chaplains are charitable and the prisoners in the 
wrong. I refrain from passing judgment on this fact, but 
none the less it is a fact which we, as shepherds of souls, 
cannot but bitterly deplore. Up to quite recently the mili- 
tary authorities have refused even to those condemned to 
death a priest of their own nationality and speaking their 
own language. I know of nothing more deplorable than 
this. It cannot be denied that faith must be raised to the 
level of heroism, if the prisoners are to be inspired with 
filial confidence in a priest who, from the human point of 
view, appears to them in the light of an envoy from an 
enemy power. 

The oft-repeated petitions of the Belgian episcopate, to 
which I am assured the German bishops have been good 
enough to lend support, even the august intervention of his 
Holiness himself, have not yet succeeded in bringing about 
any improvement in this state of things. 

Now, the occupying power has deported and continues 
to deport thousands of civilians, Flemings and Walloons, 
and sends them we know not where into camps and fac- 
tories, compelling them to work to the advantage of the 
enemy. These wretched men suffer from hunger and cold; 
many of them are spat upon and beaten because they refuse 
to work "voluntarily." It is easier for you than it is for 
us to verify this cruel treatment and have it brought to an 
end. We tremble, and the mothers of families tremble, at 
the thought of the danger to which the faith and the morals 
of these poor, forsaken men are exposed. They feel iso- 
lated, without home life, far from the sacraments and out 
of contact with their parochial Belgian clergy. 

I am loath to believe that your Eminences feel no sym- 
pathy with us in our anxiety and that you will hold your 
powerful support from us now. 

If the German Empire will not grant the repatriation of 
our fellow-citizens, whom, contrary to all truth, it styles 
unemployed, a burden on public funds, obtain for us, I en- 



336 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

treat you, permission to send them our priests to protect 
their morals and safeguard their faith. These priests are 
ready to endure every sacrifice. They will agree not to re- 
turn to Belgium save with those to whom they earnestly 
desire to devote themselves. 

I intrust with all confidence my petition to your apostolic 
hearts, which petition is a joint one from the Belgian clergy 
and episcopate, the mothers, wives and children of our 
Christian families. 

Receive, my Lord Cardinals, the assurance of my re- 
spectful and religiously devoted sentiments. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

The Cardinal Archbishop of Cologne and other Ger- 
man bishops made pressing and repeated attempts, but with- 
out success, to obtain from the military authorities permis- 
sion for the Belgian priests to accompany those deported. 

The United States protested against the transfer of 
Belgian workmen to Germany. The Imperial Government 
answered that it would only deport the unemployed who 
were in receipt of outside help. Consequently, persons oc- 
cupying an independent position and men actually in work 
would be exempt from deportation. 

On the other hand, in reply to a note from the Nether- 
lands Government, the German Government declared that 
it would not deport Belgians who had taken refuge in Hol- 
land in October, 19 14, and had entered Belgium on the 
distinct understanding that they would not be molested. 
Being powerless to put an end to the enrollment of men, the 
Cardinal was at least desirous of contributing by every 
means at his command to the repatriation of these two 
classes of the deported. As announced in his instructions 
to his priests, he established at the archbishop's house an 
office for the reception of appeals. In his first request to 
the Governor General he appeals for the repatriation of 698 
persons. 



DEPORTATION OF UNEMPLOYED 337 

Archbishop' s House, Malines, 

January i^th, 19 17. 
To His Excellency Baron von Huene, Interim Governor 
General, Brussels. 

In its reply to the protest made by the United States 
against the deportation of Belgium citizens into Germanv, 
the Imperial Government declared that the transfer should 
be limited to those only who were receiving help from pub- 
lic funds and had no work in Belgium. I have the honor 
of inviting your Excellency's attention to the cases of men 
belonging to my diocese, the transfer of whom is no doubt 
due to mistakes made in recruiting. 

As the certificates joined to the petition of repatriation 
duly attest, these deported persons held an independent po- 
sition or were engaged in work remunerative enough to en- 
able them to provide adequately for their own wants and 
those of their dependents. In order to avoid discussion 
respecting certain certificates which mention a different trade 
from that carried on by the holder before the outbreak of 
hostilities, I think it necessary to inform your Excellency 
that in consequence of the mobilization of our army, when 
war was declared, and the exodus of part of our popula- 
tion, many workmen have for the time being changed their 
trade. 

Those among our fellow countrymen who fled to Hol- 
land and only returned on the assurance that they would 
not be molested, find themselves in a peculiar position. The 
reply of the German Government to the note of the Neth- 
erlands Government, dated November 29th, 19 16, regard- 
ing the deportation of Belgians, aims at recognizing the 
exceptional position affecting a considerable number of the 
people of my diocese. We have, therefore, been satisfied 
with proving their presence in Holland in 1914- 

The forms have been filled in by the parochial clergy 
themselves, or under their instructions, and countersigned 
by the mayors of the communes. 

To facilitate the work of your Excellency's officials, we 
have forwarded them to you in duplicate, together with 
the attestations attached thereto. They are classified ac- 



338 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

cording to communes, grouped by deaneries and arranged 
in alphabetical order. 

Today I am handing your Excellency a first list contain- 
ing in duplicate 698 forms affecting the inhabitants of the 
deaneries of Contich, Diest, Jodoigne and Orp-le-Grand. 

I sincerely hope that, as the result of your Excellency's 
kind offices, 698 exiles will soon be restored to their af- 
flicted families. 

Accept, sir, the assurance of my sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

The petitions on behalf of the unemployed deported to 
Germany were sent in rapid succession. On January 29th, 
19 17, the Cardinal forwarded to the Governor General 325 
petitions for repatriation; on February 1st, 530; February 
7th, 515; February 15th, 516; February 17th, 593; Febru- 
ary 26th, 563 ; March 5th, 408, and May 21st and 22d, 6$. 

The archives of the archbishop's house contain one soli- 
tary reply from the Governor General to these various let- 
ters, as follows : 

Government General of Belgium, Brussels, 

February 12th, 19 17. 
To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of Malines. 
I have the honor to inform your Eminence in reply to 
your esteemed letter of the 7th inst., that the petitions ask- 
ing for the repatriation of Belgians deported to Germany 
as unemployed will be submitted to the competent German 
authorities. 

Authority to return to Belgium will be granted to those 
who can prove that they have been unjustly deported. 

I present to your Eminence the expression of my sincere 
esteem. 

(Signed) Baron von Bissing, 

Lieutenant General. 

As the communal authorities declined to hand in the list 
of unemployed, the occupying power, to compass its end, 
resorted to an indirect expedient. It summoned to the "mel- 



DEPORTATION OF UNEMPLOYED 339 

deamt" all persons occupying an independent position as 
well as men actually in work. A special stamp had to be 
affixed to their identity card, certifying that they were not 
unemployed and were exempt from deportation. All those 
whose identity card was not furnished with this stamp were 
to be regarded as out of work and taken to Germany. 

A body of nineteen Malines priests, at the head of which 
was Canon Vranken, the Cardinal's secretary, refused to 
lend their co-operation to this scheme and addressed the fol- 
lowing letter to the Kreischef : 

Malines, December 24-th, 19 16. 
To the Colonel Pohlmann, Kreischef of Malines. 

We the undersigned members of the Malines clergy 
have reason to believe that our summons to the "meldeamt" 
on Wednesday next, 27th inst., is occasioned by our non- 
appearance at the general convocation on Friday, 8th inst. 

We have the honor to inform you that our attitude had 
been maturely considered and was dictated by conscientious 
motives. It is impossible for us to co-operate in a line of 
action which is an infringement of the primary rights of 
our workingmen and adverse to their best interests. 

Receive, sir, the expression of our sincere esteem. 

The Governor General inflicted a fine of 100 marks on 
each of the signatories of this letter, and Baron von der 
Lancken was instructed to advise the Cardinal to that effect. 

Political Department of the Government General of Bel- 
gium, Brussels. 
I. 918. January 2%th, 1917. 

To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of Malines. 
The Governor General has directed me to inform your 
Eminence of the following facts: To enable him to select 
those of the unemployed who are to be deported from Ma- 
lines and to facilitate the investigation of each individual 
case, the Kreischef summoned various classes of persons to 
the Meldeamt, each one on a different day during the month 
of December, and among these were included ecclesiastics. 
Everybody enjoying immunity from deportation was re- 



340 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

quired — as has been expressly stated in a public notice — to 
have his identity card stamped in a special way at the 
Meldeamt. The said notice further stated that any one 
hindered from appearing in person could be represented by 
another on reasons for his nonappearance being given. The 
priests in question could doubtless have availed themselves 
of this regulation, but they preferred to absent themselves 
from the bureau and did not appear on a second date as- 
signed to them. These priests afterward sent to the Kreis- 
chef a letter, in which they declared that their attitude in 
not answering the summons had been dictated by their un- 
willingness to co-operate in the measures adopted against 
the unemployed. As, according to the wording of the notice 
posted up, the question of the co-operation of priests did 
not arise, the motives assigned were not admissible, conse- 
quently the Kreischef had to acknowledge that the priests 
by their nonappearance had contravened his orders, and by 
sentence of the Governor General each of them was mulcted 
in a fine of ioo marks. 

The Governor General deems it fitting to inform your 
Eminence of these facts. His Excellency cannot but perceive 
an open contradiction between the priests' declaration signed 
in the first place by Canon Vranken and the proposal made 
by your Eminence to seek the advice of the priests in the 
selection of the unemployed. In your letter of November 
29th, your Eminence said: "Priests who know the common 
people better than any one else would render valuable as- 
sistance in making these inquiries. Why is this aid re- 
fused?" Taking into consideration these words of your 
Eminence, the Governor General finds their refusal to obey 
the Kreischef's formal order altogether inexplicable and 
therefore regrets his inability to remit the fine imposed upon 
them. 

I offer your Eminence the expression of my sincere es- 
teem and I am yours devotedly, 

(Signed) Lancken. 

The Cardinal merely acknowledged the receipt of this 
letter of January 28th from Baron von der Lancken. He 



DEPORTATION OF UNEMPLOYED 341 

replied to the interim Governor General of Belgium, Baron 
von Huene, upholding the conduct of his priests and point- 
ing out how odious were the steps taken against them by 
the Governor General. 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 

January 31st, 19 17. 
To Baron von der Lancken, Chief of the Political Depart- 
ment of the Governor General of Belgium. 
I have received the dispatch of January 28th you were 
good enough to send me on behalf of the Governor General. 
The answer herewith inclosed which I have the honor 
to address to his Excellency deals with such delicate ques- 
tions that it appears to me more judicious to write to him 
directly on the subject. 

Receive, sir, the assurance of my sincere esteem. 
(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 

January 31st, 19 17. 
To His Excellency Baron von Huene, interim Governor 
General of Belgium, Brussels. 

Your Excellency intrusted to the chief of your political 
department, Baron von der Lancken, the task of writing me 
to the effect that you fail to understand the attitude of the 
Malines clergy who deemed it their conscientious duty to 
decline the offer of having their identity card stamped. 

It seems to you that this attitude is out of harmony with 
this passage in my letter of November 29th, 1 9 1 6 : "Priests 
who know the common people better than any one else would 
render the recruiters valuable assistance. Why is their aid 
refused?" 

The military government has sentenced each of these 
ecclesiastics to a fine of 100 marks, and your Excellency de- 
clares that to your regret you cannot but ratify the sentence. 

The action of the clergy of Malines was taken with full 
deliberation just as your Excellency supposes, and their rea- 
sons for thus acting were given in writing to the Kreischef. 
That the intentions of this gentleman were well meaning in 



342 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

the case of certain ranks of society, I do not doubt, but his 
method of procedure, though welcome to the middle class, 
was a menace to the working classes. In order to organize 
more methodically and more surely the calling up of a part 
of the Belgian people destined to serve by fair means or 
foul the economic interests of the enemy, and therefore in- 
directly military interests, the occupying power ordered the 
communal authorities to draw up a list of the unemployed. 
Most of the magistrates of Belgian communes, fully realiz- 
ing that they were intrusted with the duty of safeguarding 
national integrity, refused to furnish under the heading 
"unemployed" a list of free citizens destined to be trans- 
formed the next day into a list of prescribed ones. 

Checked by this refusal, the military authorities resorted 
to a roundabout way. The "unemployed" not being reg- 
istered, their only remaining resource was to register those 
who were "employed." What could not be obtained by 
direct means, it was sought to procure by an indirect ma- 
neuver, viz. : by graciously offering a stamp to those whom 
they wanted to spare and thus by a process of subtraction 
to secure a list of unemployed who were to be deported. 

After the threat addressed to the burgomasters came 
the bait offered to the burghers. The two attempts made 
by the military authorities had the same end in view : namely, 
to bring Belgians to co-operate in organizing the deportation 
of their fellow-countrymen. Both were to have the same 
result, viz., the snatching from their homes of a class of 
citizens as innocent and as free as any other Belgians and 
to force them into exile and to work for the enemy. The 
fact that all those hoping to reap some advantage from the 
possession of a stamped card did not suspect the presence 
of a hook concealed in the bait can be readily conceived. 
The fact that men of the world with family interests confided 
to their charge did not fully realize all that their feelings 
of national solidarity demanded is not to be used as a griev- 
ance against them; but the priest with whom temporal in- 
terests are as nothing compared with those that are eternal, 
the priest who in his capacity of preacher of the gospel and 
official representative of the Christian law would blush with 



DEPORTATION OF UNEMPLOYED 343 

shame if he failed in his personal conduct to act in con- 
formity with its loftiest teachings, the priest, protector of 
the weakest, has, arising out of his moral obligations, a 
keener insight, thus enabling him to realize that he would 
be doing less than his duty were he not to push fraternal 
devotion beyond the strict requirements of the common law. 
These are the lofty ideals by which the clergy of Malines 
have been inspired, and of which your Excellency has had 
a glimpse in the letter addressed to the Kreischef on De- 
cember 24th last. 

That is why I wrote to Baron von Bissing in my letter 
of November 29th: "It would be iniquitous to let deporta- 
tion press hard on the working classes only. In the sacrifice 
imposed by the occupying power — cruel though it be — and 
precisely because it is cruel — the middle class ought also to 
share. A large number of my clergy have implored me to 
claim for them a place in the vanguard of the persecuted. 
I wish to place their offer on record and proudly submit it 
to you." 

The lines your Excellency quotes from that same letter 
of November 29th are in harmony with the attitude adopted 
by the Malines clergy as well as with all my correspondence 
dealing with the deportations. 

In my letters of October 19th and November 10th and 
also in most of mine of November 29th, I made a protest 
with all the energy of which I was capable and with which 
the love of justive and charity had inspired me, against the 
kidnapping of thousands of our countrymen. Nevertheless, 
fearing that the military authorities would remain deaf to 
these protests, I added to my entreaties this very natural 
thought: "If, however, you should prove obstinate in injus- 
tice, allow at least our priests to lessen the evil your acts 
of violence are inflicting on our people; accept our co-opera- 
tion to save what, according to your own instructions, iniqui- 
tous though they be, can still be saved." But this you would 
not have. You have withheld your line of action from the 
control of those who, by their social vocation and their 
daily contact with the lower classes, are best qualified to ex- 
ercise it. You signified to me personally that I was not to 



344 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

offer a single word of comfort to those about to leave. 
Forced to submit to your military regulations, I respected 
the order. 

But there is a barrier before which military force is held 
up and behind which is intrenched inviolate right. On this 
side of the barrier, it is we, the representatives of moral 
authority, who speak as masters. We cannot and will not 
let the Word of God be shackled. 

The military Governor has had the effrontery to fine 
nineteen priests ioo marks each for having declined from 
conscientious motives to avail themselves of a privilege ex- 
tended to them. So be it. They will pay the ioo marks 
out of their modest salaries, or if unable to meet this de- 
mand, they will perhaps satisfy you at the expense of their 
liberty. Very well, so be it once more. I know the spirit 
of our priests well enough to foresee that they will be pa- 
tient all the same. They will drink to the dregs the cup of 
bitterness held forcibly by you to the lips of a people which 
has never wished you anything but good. 

We will wait in patience for the day of retaliation, not 
retaliation on this earth, however; that we have already, 
for the occupation regime you have forced upon us is ab- 
horred by everybody in the world who has any sense of 
honor. I speak of the verdict of history; I speak of the 
inevitable judgment of the God of Justice. To yourself, 
who are, if I am credibly informed, equally with the hum- 
blest of our workmen a son of the Church of God, I ven- 
ture to add you are burdening your conscience with a heavy 
weight, in sheltering behind your high authority an act of 
martial law which treats as a crime an act of Christian and 
pastoral abnegation. 

Accept the assurance of my sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

Acting on the advice of the Marquis de Villalobar, the 
Spanish Minister in Brussels, a number of prominent Bel- 
gians, animated by a desire to exhaust every possible means 
to put an end to the deportations, had recourse to a direct 



DEPORTATION OF UNEMPLOYED 345 

appeal to the Emperor. On Sunday, February nth, the 
Spanish minister and M. Levie, minister of state, repaired 
to the Archbishop's house to acquaint the Cardinal with 
their plan and to ask him to join hands with them. The 
interview resulted in an agreement that the Cardinal should 
draw up the appeal and that M. Levie should be commis- 
sioned to gather the signatures. 

On Wednesday a copy of the document was handed to 
the Spanish Minister. He in turn passed it on to Baron von 
der Lancken, who at once dispatched it to Berlin. On 
Thursday, the 15th, M. Levie, Baron de Favereau, and 
Prince de Ligne, on the introduction of the Marquis de 
Villalobar, handed the appeal officially to Baron von der 
Lancken, who was shortly to leave for Berlin. The chief 
of the political department promised his active support, as 
well as that of the Governor General, in order to obtain 
from the Emperor the favorable answer to the appeal. 

The text of the petition runs as follows : 

Imperial Majesty. 

The signatories of this appeal with heavy hearts have 
seen and still see every day thousands of their brethren torn 
from their families and dragged forcibly into exile, where 
they are compelled to choose between starvation and work 
which offends their dignity as patriots. The representatives 
of the various public bodies in Belgium, ministers of state, 
the hierarchy, members of Parliament, .the magistracy and 
the bar, commercial and industrial magnates, trade unions 
and workmen's societies, have raised their voices on behalf 
of their countrymen and have brought to the notice of the 
General Government with that candor which is the mark 
of a free people, the deep distress of the nation, the causes 
that have brought it about, those that foster it and those that 
day by day augment it. 

If your Majesty has leisure to peruse these documents 
and will deign to verify the grounds on which they rest, there 
can be no doubt that you will be inclined to do us justice. 
You can hardly imagine the wave of indignation which 
would pass over your empire if ever your own subjects were 



346 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

unreasonably expatriated and coerced Into consolidating by 
their work a foreign domination. 

Your Imperial Majesty prides yourself on your loyalty 
to your faith. May we not then be allowed to remind you 
of the simple and yet striking words of the Gospel, "Do 
unto others that which you would have done to yourself"? 

The Emperor of Germany will understand how repug- 
nant to our national amour-propre is soliciting as a favor 
what in normal times we could justly claim as a right. 

But the life and liberty of a great number of our fellow 
citizens, whom we love as brethren, is at stake. We have 
had the courage to stifle every other feeling in our breasts 
but that of brotherhood. We venture to hope that your 
Majesty will be guided by but one sentiment — that of hu- 
manity. 

The undersigned, representing the religious, political 
and judicial, economic and social authorities of the Belgian 
people, hope that your Majesty will give the necessary or- 
ders to cease deporting Belgian workmen and to repatriate 
those who have been driven into exile. 

They offer to your Majesty their respectful homage. 
Brussels, February 14, 19 17. 
Signatories : 
Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of Malines, Primate of Bel- 
gium. 
Ministers of State — Viscount de Lantsheere, Baron de 

Favereau, J. Devolder, Count Woeste. 
Relief and Victualing Committee — M. Ernest Solway, presi- 
dent. 
Senate — Baron de Favereau, president; Baron d'Huart, sec- 
retary; Viscount de Jonghe dArdoye, quaestor; Alex- 
ander Braun, Max Hallet, Prosper Hanrez, Em. Vinck. 
Chamber of Representatives — Alphonse Harmignies, vice 
president; Mansart, secretary; Xavier de Bue, quaes- 
tor; Bertrand, Michel, Levie, Paul Van Hoedgarden, 
du Bus de Warnaffe, Fulgence Masson Wauters, 
Franck, Emile Tibbaut, P. Wauwermans. 
Court of Appeal — Eug. Dupont, first president; Georges 
Terlinden, procurator general. 



DEPORTATION OF UNEMPLOYED 347 

The Bar — Edmond Picard, batonnier de cassation; H. 

Botson, batonnier d'appel. 
National Bank of Belgium — L. van der Rest, vice governor. 
Society General of Belgium — Jean Jadot, governor. 
Prince de Ligne. 

Count Jean de Merode, Grand Marshal of the Court. 
Count John d'Oultremont, Honorary Grand Marshal. 
Baron Hermann de Woelmont, Grand Master of the 

Household. 
Count Leo d'Ursel. 
Count Jacques de Liedekerke. 
Viscount de Pare. 
Baron Goffinet, Grand Master of the Household of Her 

Imperial Majesty the Empress Charlotte. 

A copy of the appeal to the Emperor, to which was ap- 
pended certain documentary evidence consisting of reports, 
statistics, etc., was handed in to the Governor General, to- 
gether with the following letter: 

Brussels, February 14-th, 19 17. 

The undersigned have had the honor to address to his 
Majesty the Emperor of Germany an appeal, a copy of 
which is annexed to the present letter. 

They did not deem it necessary to join to this document 
the evidence inclosed herewith, which in their opinion sup- 
ports it. But they desire that this evidence should be in the 
hands of your Excellency in order that you may, if you judge 
opportune, or if his Majesty expresses the desire to have it 
laid before him, to communicate it to him. 

Accept, sir, the assurance of my sincere esteem. 

(This letter was signed by the same persons as the peti- 
tion to the Emperor.) 

On March 9 Baron von der Lancken transmitted 
orally to Baron de Favereau, President of the Senate, the 
answer given by the Emperor to the petition of the Belgian 
notables. He declared that his Majesty had decided to 
have minutely examined the demands contained in the appeal 
addressed to him, reserving to himself the giving of a defi* 



348 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

nite decision. Meanwhile he had given orders to send back 
to Belgium persons deported by mistake as unemployed and 
to suspend till further orders the transfer into Germany 
of Belgians unemployed. 

The deportations ceased after this and little by little the 
unhappy men, who had been taken away by force into Ger- 
many, were able to return to their country. The lamentable 
condition in which they were found on their return proved 
to the hilt what privations and sufferings they had gone 
through. A large number, exhausted by the hardships in- 
flicted on them in forcing them to work, had to be looked 
after in the hospitals. The Cardinal made his voice heard 
once again in favor of these victims of German barbarity 
in a letter addresed to Baron von der Lancken, in which 
he pleaded the cause of various condemned persons. 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 

April 2%th, 1917. 
To Baron von der Lancken. 

Dear Baron — M. Merjay, residing at 161 Rue de Cul- 
ture, Brussels, son of Lieutenant General Merjay, has just 
been condemned to death by Charleroi tribunal. Since the 
war began he had lost his wife, one of his sons had fallen 
in battle, another had become prisoner. The Merjay fam- 
ily is eminently honorable and Christian. The new Gov- 
ernor General * would bring honor on himself by using clem- 
ency toward the condemned man. 

You will perhaps remember that last January you gave 
me hope of the release of the Dean of Orp-le-grand, M. 
Herman, who then had undergone half his sentence. The 
month of May will soon be here and the poor dean f is 
still in his cell at Siegburg. He has already completed 
nearly a year and a half of his sentence. Cannot his last 
six months be remitted? 

It is a traditional practice for the Archbishop to conse- 
crate his Suffragans. Thus I was invited to consecrate the 

•Baron von Falkenhausen had succeeded in the capacity of Governor 
General Baron von Bissing, who died April 18th, 1917. 

t M. Herman had been condemned for having helped young men to 
cross the frontier. 



DEPORTATION OF UNEMPLOYED 349 

new Bishop of Ghent on Tuesday, May 1, and joyfully ac- 
cepted the invitation. And now a pass to Ghent is re- 
fused, though I had in my request for a permit indicated the 
whole of my itinerary. But all these personal grievances 
I put up with without protest. 

In return, may we not hope that the German authorities 
will lean more toward clemency? Will you not use your 
influence to bring them to this way of acting? I deem it 
my duty to remind you of the delays made in repatriating 
our workmen ; of the lamentable condition in which they re- 
turn to us — a clear evidence of the treatment they have 
undergone. The war will not last forever. You who see 
things from a broader point of view than the militarists 
should make them understand that they can have no interest 
in arousing against them the indignation of all right-thinking 
men on the day conditions of peace are discussed. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

In his reply to the preceding letter, Baron von der 
Lancken examined the different cases mentioned therein, but 
passed over in complete silence the Cardinal's protest 
against the manner in which the repatriation of the deported 
was carried out. 

Political Department of the Government General of Bel- 
gium, Brussels. May 1st, 1917. 

% 3575- 

To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of Malines. 

I have duly received your esteemed letter, dated April 
28th. I have the pleasure to be able to answer your Emi- 
nence that a few days ago the Cure Herman, of Orp-le- 
grand, received a remission of the rest of his sentence. The 
case of the Abbe Allaer has not yet been settled, but I have 
every reason to expect a satisfactory solution.* 

As regards the Merjay case, I have not yet been able 

*The Abbe Allaer had been sentenced to eight months' imprisonment 
for having helped Monsignor Legraive in showing hospitality to a French- 
man on his way to the frontier. 



350 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

to take any steps, owing to the change of Governor General. 
The illness and death of Baron von Bissing have not al- 
lowed me till now to attend to the favor you ask for in your 
letter of April 12th on behalf of Burgomaster Dessain. I 
must confess that it will be very hard to obtain authoriza- 
tion for him to go to Switzerland. In cases of this kind 
which have occurred before, the released prisoners, espe- 
cially Batonnier Theodor, took up on foreign soil an atti- 
tude which was not of a kind to encourage the German 
authorities to continue in this course. 

Your Eminence also makes the remark that you were 
unable to assist at the consecration of the new Bishop of 
Ghent. The responsibility for this must not be laid to the 
charge of the German authorities. For my part, I would 
have done all I could to facilitate the journey to Ghent both 
for your Eminence and for the Bishops of Liege and Na- 
mur. For this it would have been needful to put off the 
consecration for a few days. As, however, the new Bishop 
pleaded urgency and declared that he would be satisfied with 
the presence of Bishops living close at hand in the war zone, 
it was not possible to give effect to the reasons brought for- 
ward by your Eminence to justify your presence at the con- 
secration, nor to obtain the traveling permit asked for, in 
view of the more stringent regulations which had been lately 
adopted. 

(Signed) LANCKEN. 



CHAPTER XXXII 

BARON VON DER LANCKEN AGAIN ACCUSES CERTAIN PRIESTS 
OF HAVING MISUSED THEIR OFFICE OF PREACHING 

Political Department, Government General of Belgium, 

Brussels. November 3rd, 19 16. 

To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of Malines. 

I must again thank your Eminence for the trouble you 
have taken to make certain modifications in the text of your 
pastoral, prior to its being read in the churches. To prove 
how right we were in regarding certain passages as dan- 
gerous, I think it enough to quote the following instance: 
At Brussels a Capuchin father added to the passage refer- 
ring to the independence of Belgium certain comments, which 
your Eminence manifestly did not anticipate. He said: 
"England has again guaranteed our independence." 

I would again beg your Eminence to direct your particu- 
lar attention to what is going on at the Grotto of Lourdes, 
at Laeken. True, these sermons contain no direct attack 
on the occupying power, but preachers often choose topics, 
such as, e. g., "Joshua and the 300 Warriors," which prove 
beyond doubt their intention to poison the minds of their 
hearers against Germany. Such proceedings are bound to 
have consequences. I think that your Eminence could pre- 
vent by a simple admonition the deplorable results of this 
course of action. 

As a sequel to information received by us, an inquiry 
was set on foot about certain reprehensible remarks made 
in the church of Cureghem by the curate Egidius Davidts. 
By order of the Governor General the inquiry was sus- 
pended, but his Excellency Baron von Bissing would be 
grateful to your Eminence if you were to call the curate to 
order in accordance with ecclesiastical law. 

35i 



352 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

Lastly, I should like to communicate the following to 
your Eminence: A proposal was made to the Governor 
General to limit the number of candles used on the occasion 
of the feast of All Saints, owing to a lack of material used 
in their manufacture. The Governor General is loth to 
meddle in religious matters. In view of the scarcity of wax 
he leaves your Eminence to take whatever steps the inter- 
ests of public worship may require. 

I believe that the Viaene case has been settled according 
to your wishes. The judicial formalities to be gone through 
in a case of this kind, the collecting of all the documents, 
etc. . . . always take up some time, in consequence of the 
press of work at the offices where these matters are dealt 
with. 

I offer to your Eminence the expression of my sincere 
esteem. 

(Signed) Lancken. 

His Eminence answered the accusations of the chief of 
the political department by putting him on his guard against 
arbitrary interpretations place"d on words used in the pulpit. 
Baron von der Lancken had at the beginning of his letter 
thanked the Cardinal for making some slight modifications 
in the pastoral, "The Voice of God." The Cardinal an- 
swered, as he already had done in his recent interview with 
him about this matter, that this spontaneous concession could 
not be looked upon as an acknowledgment of the occupying 
Power's right to censor any document issued by him as 
Bishop. 

Archbishop' s House, Malines, 

November $th, 191 6. 
To Baron von der Lancken, Chief of the Political Depart- 
ment, Government General, Brussels. 
Dear Baron — I have duly received your esteemed letter 
I. 10387, dated November 3rd, for which I thank you. 

I will set on foot without delay an inquiry into what 
happened out of the ordinary in the churches of Cureghem, 
Laeken (Lourdes Grotto) and in that of the Capuchin Fa- 



LANCKEN ACCUSES BELGIAN PRIESTS 353 

thers at Brussels. On my side, let me ask you again to be 
wary of arbitrary interpretations of words uttered by 
preachers. Thus the alleged words attributed to a Capuchin 
Father, quoted in your letter, "England has guaranteed 
Belgium's independence," are they not capable of an inno- 
cent interpretation and is not that one which we ought to 
adopt? I have not as yet been able to get information as 
to the sermon you complain about, but I understand very 
well that one might say — precisely to avoid what on another 
occasion you called a prophecy — we have a sure guarantee, 
given us by the treaty of London, that European peace will 
not be concluded so long as Belgium has not recovered her 
independence. 

I do not regret having suppressed the three passages of 
my pastoral which have particularly offended the Governor 
General, though without reason irumy opinion. I suppressed 
them willingly because you were kind enough to declare 
that you put no obligation upon me. I wished to prove to 
you thereby not only that I am anxious to spare those trouble 
who devote themselves to my service, but also that I know 
when my conscience allows me how to sacrifice my own 
personal views in order to avoid a dispute. 

To safeguard the rights of my conscience I made a 
great point of telling you that my free concession was not 
to be interpreted as the acknowledgment of a right of the 
occupying Power to watch over or censor my Episcopal acts 
or writings. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 



CHAPTER XXXIII 

NATIONAL CELEBRATIONS IN THE CHURCHES 

On November 15th, the King's name-day, a high mass, 
followed by the Te Deum, was sung in several churches, 
among others at St. Gudule, and at St. Jacques-sur-Couden- 
berg. On the pretext that some members of the congre- 
gation had, on coming out of the church, sung the "Brabant 
conne," and raised shouts of "Long live the King," "Bel- 
gium forever," "Liberty forever!" the town of Brussels 
was punished by General Hurt, Governor of Brussels and 
Brabant. According to an order dated November 20, all 
public establishments were to be closed at 8 p. m. and the 
inhabitants were forbidden to frequent the streets between 
8 :30 p. m. and 4 a. m. The penalty was not abrogated till 
December 19th. 

On the occasion of these incidents, Baron von Bissing 
addressed to the Cardinal the following letter: 

Government General of Belgium, Brussels, 

November 25 th, 19 16. 
To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of Malines. 

Your Eminence is aware, I suppose, that on the 15th 
inst. solemn religious services held in the Churches of St. 
Gudule and St. Jacques were made an occasion for political 
demonstrations which were afterward continued in the 
streets. The Governor of Brussels and of Brabant has had 
to punish the population of Greater Brussels. 

Your Eminence assuredly cannot be blind to the fact that 
the principal cause of these incidents is to be found as usual 
in the playing and singing of the National Anthem. It is 
inevitable that the enthusiasm of the crowd should be roused 
and excesses committed. Since, as a general rule, the organ 

354 



CELEBRATIONS IN CHURCHES 355 

gives the signal for the singing, the responsibility of all that 
happened falls on the ecclesiastical authorities. Since dem- 
onstrations of this kind may lead to serious trouble, I can- 
not in future adopt the same tolerant attitude as I have done 
up till now. I must also mention, on this occasion, the use 
of flags inside the churches. People are no longer content 
with decorating the altars with flags, but they have begun 
to unfurl and wave them. If in the future incidents like 
those which have happened at Brussels are brought to my 
notice, I shall have to leave to the judgment of your Emi- 
nence the advisability of celebrating or not solemn religious 
services on anniversary days. 

I am informed that more than a year ago your Eminence 
gave instructions to your clergy limiting the introduction of 
secular rites into religious services to those cases only pro- 
vided for by the liturgy. For the aforesaid reasons I have 
asked myself whether I ought not to prohibit the playing or 
the singing of the National Anthem and other nonreligious 
melodies, and if I ought not to restrict the use of flags in 
churches to memorial services held for the fallen in battle. 
Before issuing any order of the kind, I solicit your Emi- 
nence's advice. 

(Signed) Baron von Bissing, 

Lieutenant General. 

The Cardinal's answer is as follows: 

Archbishop' s House, Malines, 

November iqth, 1916. 
To His Excellency Baron von Bissing, Governor General, 
Brussels. 
Sir — The letter I. 1 1.3 19, with which your Excellency 
has honored me under date 25th November, calls my atten- 
tion to "political demonstrations" alleged to have taken 
place in certain churches. 

I have at heart as much as anybody the dignity of public 
worship and respect for holy places. So recently as last 
Sunday I opened my address in the Church of St. Gudule 
with these words: "Brethren, I beseech you earnestly to 
remain recollected in the House of God, both during and 



356 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

after the service." My words were heeded. Neither by- 
gesture nor by word of mouth was the decorum of the cere- 
mony disturbed.* 

I feel confident that the few parishes where an abuse 
may have crept in will observe a similar recommendation, 
such as I shall deem it my duty to make them. 

For my own part, I beseech your Excellency to be on 
your guard against deliberately or undeliberately exagger- 
ated reports sent you. For instance, I do not know whether 
there be in reality one or several churches where the clergy 
would indulge in flag waving. I have made no inquiry about 
the two cases of St. Gudule and St. Jacques, the only two 
which your Excellency's letter mentions by name. But a 
person of high standing, a stranger in Belgium, who assisted 
at the religious service on November 15th, of his own ac- 
cord, informed me that he was very surprised that the Ger- 
man authorities should have used, in describing this cere- 
mony, the word "demonstration." 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

Baron von der Lancken, acting on the order of Baron 
von Bissing, acknowledged the Cardinal's letter of Novem- 
ber 29th and called attention to a new case, in which, accord- 
ing to him, the Cardinal's people had taken part in a politi- 
cal demonstration in a Brussels church. 

Political Department of the Government General, Brussels. 

December i$th, 19 16. 
To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of Malines. 

His Excellency was pleased to hear that your Eminence 
would make it your duty to send an admonition to the clergy 
of those parishes where abuses have crept in. 

Quite lately people have again made a political dem- 
onstration in a Brussels church. In the middle of the singing 
a Belgian flag was unfurled and waved before the altar; 

* On Sunday, November 2, mass was said at St. Gudule for the inten- 
tion of those deported. The Cardinal made an address in which he in- 
veighed against the crime of deportation and proclaimed that violated right 
remains right and that injustice resting on might is none the less injustice. 



CELEBRATIONS IN CHURCHES 357 

then it was carried all round the church in a End of torch- 
light procession. All the time the "Brabanconne" was 
played on the organ in a very lively and ostentatious way. 

Such cases fall within the scope of the orders which have 
been drawn up against political demonstrations organized 
in public and consequently render those participating in them 
liable to legal proceedings. It is impossible not to hold the 
cure responsible for any breaches of the law in his church. 
Your Eminence knows how distasteful it is to the Governor 
to take steps against priests, and he, therefore, earnestly 
desires the ecclesiastical authorities to take the needful meas- 
ures to avoid their recurrence. 

(Signed) Lancken. 

The Cardinal asked Von der Lancken for details and 
took advantage of this opportunity to intercede in favor 
of some persons detained under peculiarly cruel circum- 
stances. 

Archbishop's House, M alines, 

January 16th, 19 17. 
To His Excellency Baron von der Lancken, Chief of the 
Political Department, Government General, Brussels. 
Dear Baron — For a long time I have wanted to revert 
to the Governor General's esteemed letter, dated November 
25th, 19 1 6, in which he complained of certain demonstra- 
tions, unseemly beyond all reason, which, according to re- 
ports made to him, took place in several Brussels churches. 
In this letter his Excellency mentions the singing of the 
"Brabanconne," national flags being unfurled and waved, 
and other secular melodies rendered in church, etc. He in- 
vited me to prohibit them, to save him the trouble of for- 
bidding them himself. I have received information from 
reliable sources and have not succeeded in finding a single 
church, either in Brussels itself or in the surrounding dis- 
trict, where the above-mentioned abuses are or were preva- 
lent. I am aware that Baron von Bissing is absent and that 
is the reason why I have put off till now the present corre- 
spondence; but possibly he took you into his confidence be- 



358 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

fore leaving and you would therefore be in a position to 
specify the churches he had in view. 

I embrace this opportunity of bringing to your notice 
certain events you are interested in, or in which you would 
be perhaps willing to interest yourself. 

The chaplain of Luttringhausen prison induced Canon 
Loncin to petition for the remission of the last three months 
of his sentence; Canon Loncin writes to his family that his 
appeal has been rejected. 

Again, M. l'Abbe Herman, cure and dean of Orp-le- 
grand, a venerable priest of sixty-three years of age and 
an invalid, has undergone, first at Rheinbach, then at Wahn 
(Rhld) thirteen months' imprisonment for humane acts 
which every man who is not absolutely heartless and, still 
more, every priest devoted to his country was obliged to 
perform; you had raised my hope of his release and even 
the Holy Father deigned to interest himself in his case. So 
far the wretched captive has, so he informs me, not a gleam 
of hope. Shall I be compelled to tell him that he must serve 
the remaining nine months of his sentence ? The Abbe 
Bernaerts, too, who is so indispensable for his parish and the 
social work of which he was director at Antwerp, is still 
interned. I endeavored to visit him on the 7th inst., but 
was denied access to the prison. You will remember that a 
woman of mysterious character, certainly without a search- 
warrant, examined in the presence of an officer Abbe Ber- 
naert's confidential papers — an incident I have already 
brought to your notice. May I ask you whether the inquiry 
has been fruitful of results? 

You must have heard that the mayors and leading citi- 
zens of several communes in the province of Antwerp are 
interned at Malines, because some workmen in their respec- 
tive communes have evaded deportation. Among those in- 
terned is an old man of eighty. I do not wish to reopen 
the discussion of deportation itself for the present, but, the 
temperature being what it is, can you, in the name of hu- 
manity, justify the detention in an icy cell of a venerable 
octogenarian? 

But there is something else even more inhuman than 



CELEBRATIONS IN CHURCHES 359 

this. A poor woman named Madame Wilputte, who is 
about to become a mother — according to the doctors within 
the next fortnight — is lodged in the cavalry barracks in 
Malines, and notwithstanding her condition the local au- 
thorities have made known to her their intention to have 
her carried off to Germany immediately. 

Is such conduct conceivable ? Can you do nothing to put 
a stop to it? 

Please receive the assurance of my sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

The chief of the political department contented himself 
with replying as follows : 

Political Department of the Government General of Bel- 
gium, Brussels. January 17 th, 1 9 1 7 . 
S. No. I. 597. 
To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of Malines. 

I have to acknowledge the receipt of your esteemed let- 
ter of the 1 6th inst. The Governor General will still be 
away for some time. Nevertheless, I am able to give the 
desired information about the patriotic demonstrations 
which were made in churches. The incidents mentioned in 
the Governor General's letter, dated December 15th, oc- 
curred on December 3rd at St. Mary's Church at Schaer- 
beek. During the 1 1 o'clock service a procession was formed 
inside the church in which the Belgian flag was carried 
around. This ceremony was repeated in the same church 
on January 7th.* 

These particulars will suffice to guide your Eminence 
in seeking supplementary information. I should like, how- 
ever, to add that if these demonstrations continue, their 
authors must not be surprised if they incur severe penalties, 
for it is a proved fact that the leniency we have hitherto 
shown has given rise to an increase in ceremonies of this 
kind in church, the tendency of which is obviously political. 

* These so-called demonstrations consisted in a procession which took 
place regularly inside the church on the first Sunday of each month. Even 
before the war the national flag figured prominently therein. 



360 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

As I am on the point of going on a journey for a few 
days, I am sorry I can give your Eminence no exact informa- 
tion as to the other matters dealt with in your letter. I hope, 
however, to be able to obtain the necessary authority for you 
to visit Abbe Bernaerts. Moreover, I have taken certain 
steps in favor of the Cure Herman and the Malines people 
under arrest, and on my return I shall be able to give your 
Eminence fuller details. 

Please receive the assurance of my sincere esteem. 

(Signed) Lancken. 

N. B. — I have just this moment heard that the leading 
Malines people who were arrested with a view to their un- 
dergoing an urgent examination have been set at liberty. 



CHAPTER XXXIV 

REMOVAL OF CERTAIN APPARATUS FROM THE ST. LAMBERT'S 
TECHNICAL SCHOOL 

The German authorities, not content with despoiling the 
Belgian factories of all their machinery, went so far as to 
carry off certain tools used in the instruction of apprentices 
at St. Lambert's Technical School, Malines. 

As soon as he became aware of this new encroachment 
on the rights of private property, the Cardinal commissioned 
one of his vicars general to lay a protest against this un- 
justifiable act of commandeering before the competent Ger- 
man military authority, but he was too late, for on the 
arrival of the Cardinal's delegate the material was already 
loaded in railway wagons labeled for Germany. 

The Cardinal hastened to complain to Baron von Bissing 
in these terms : 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 

December nth, 1916. 
To His Excellency Baron von Bissing, Governor General, 
Brussels. 
Sir — I have the honor to> inform you that this morning 
an engineer, engaged in the Rateau works at Muysen-lez- 
Malines, advised me that thirty-nine engineer's twin vises, 
forming part of the apparatus of St. Lambert's Technical 
School, were commandeered by a German officer. 

St. Lambert's Technical School is a free school, under 
the patronage of the Archbishop of Malines. It trains 
workmen, ironworkers among others, who attend a practical 
course, in a section reserved for them at the Rateau works, 
using tools and other apparatus made by their own hands. 
I at once sent one of my vicars general to protest against the 

361 



362 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

taking away of these tools and to insure their retention for 
the use of our apprentices. When my delegate arrived the 
iron vises were already loaded in trucks, at the station at 
Muysen, and tomorrow they will be dispatched to Germany. 

The officer, Lieutenant Buehler, had already gone back 
to Antwerp, but the vicar general called at his office in the 
afternoon and asked him to postpone their dispatch. The 
lieutenant excused himself on the plea that he was obliged 
to obey orders. 

I have ventured to place these facts before your Excel- 
lency in the firm conviction that you will admit my claim 
by restoring to our young workmen equipment doubly dear 
to them, because it is not only forged by their own hands, 
but also insures them a means of livelihood. 

Accept, sir, the assurance of my sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

Baron von der Lancken received orders from Baron von 
Bissing to reply to the Cardinal's protest. He made no at- 
tempt to justify the commandeering of engineer's vises and 
even implicitly acknowledged the illegality of the proceed- 
ings taken by the military authorities. Moreover, he de- 
clared that the occupying power would do its best to repair 
the damage done to St. Lambert's school. 

Political Department of the Government General of Bel- 
gium, Brussels. December 15th, 1916. 
To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of Malines. 

As soon as I was informed over the telephone by Mgr. 
de Wachter, Auxiliary Bishop, of the removal of engineer's 
vises from St. Lambert's School, I exerted myself to the ut- 
most to settle the matter. The next day the Governor Gen- 
eral, after perusing your letter, seemed very anxious to com- 
ply with your request. It has not, however, been possible 
to prevent the transport of the articles in question, but the 
Governor General has given orders to return as many vises 
to St. Lambert's School as have been taken away. 

According to information received, only three of the 



APPARATUS FROM SCHOOL 363 

vises belonging to the school were parallel or twin vises; 
the others were of the common type. I am sorry to have to 
warn your Eminence, however, that the parallel vises will be 
very hard to restore; the stock with which we are going 
to replace them will not comprise this special kind. 

I offer to your Eminence the expression of my sincere 
esteem. 

(Signed) Lancken. 

The assertion that the military authorities had only taken 
away three parallel vises was untrue. Moreover, Baron 
von der Lancken himself acknowledged as much in a letter 
to Mgr. Legraive, the auxiliary bishop. "It was my mis- 
take," said he, "when I said that all the vises requisitioned 
were not parallel vises." 

In spite of the Governor General's promises, the articles 
taken away were never either replaced or paid for by the 
Germans. The school, at its own expense, had to purchase 
a new stock. 



CHAPTER XXXV 

REQUISITION OF COPPER 

An order of the Governor General dated July 8, 191 6, 
ordered the compulsory declaration of all existing stocks of 
copper, tin, nickel, bronze, or gun-metal in occupied terri- 
tory. 

By a new order of December 30th all household articles 
made of tin, brass, copper, etc., were seized and had to be 
made over, the date of delivery being fixed later on for 
each district. Any one contravening the order was liable 
to penalties not exceeding five years' imprisonment and 
20,000 marks fine. 

As soon as these orders came into force, the Cardinal 
wrote Baron von Bissing as follows : 

Archbishop' s House, Malines, 

February i\th } 1917. 
To His Excellency Baron von Bissing, Governor General, 
Brussels. 
Sir — The official gazette of laws and orders of July 8th, 
19 16, announces that the military authorities are thinking of 
commandeering all existing copper, tin and nickel in occupied 
territory. We could not bring ourselves to believe that the 
occupying power would ever resort to such measures; but 
now an order of December 30th confirms that of July 8th 
and we learn that these regulations are now being enforced. 
From the moral and religious point of view adopted by 
me by reason of my duty as bishop, I respectfully make your 
Eminence a dual request: 

First. That you will not regard as guilty those who in 
their conscience believe that they cannot actively lend a hand 
in carrying off the commandeered metals. 

364 



REQUISITION OF COPPER 365 

Second. That you would kindly take into account that, 
according to canon law, the goods of religious communities, 
seminaries, episcopal colleges, as well as those of the "fab- 
riques," are ecclesiastical property and therefore cannot be 
alienated without the Sovereign Pontiff's sanction. 

To be fair, I must inform your Excellency that I can 
neither co-operate myself nor allow those under me to co- 
operate in the alienation of these goods. 

Receive, sir, the assurance of my sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 



CHAPTER XXXVI 

THE GOVERNOR GENERAL REQUESTS THE CARDINAL TO RE- 
STRICT THE CONSUMPTION OF COAL IN THE CHURCHES 

Political Department of the Government General, 

Brussels, February qth, 19 17. 
To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of Malines. 

Your Eminence is not unaware that at the present mo- 
ment a great dearth of coal is making itself felt. As the 
weather continues to be bitterly cold, it is needful for this 
fuel to be everywhere used with the greatest economy, so 
the government has taken steps to limit the consumption of 
coal. As regards fuel economy, those churches which are 
heated must fall into line with the rest. The Governor 
General requests me to draw your attention to this matter 
and leaves it to you to judge what steps you think ought to 
be taken so that the coal restrictions imposed upon every- 
body in the public interest may be complied with. 

Please receive the assurance of my sincere esteem. 

(Signed) Lancken. 

The coal shortage was due solely to the German requi- 
sitions, for, as the Cardinal showed in his letter of Novem- 
ber 2nd to Baron von Bissing, reproduced later on, the war- 
time output of the Belgian mines, had it been left at the 
disposal of the people, would have admitted of the distribu- 
tion of approximately three tons of coal a year to each of the 
population. But the greater part of the output was com- 
mandeered by the German Government, which, in order to 
secure a supply of gold, sold it to neutral countries at a 
handsome profit. Meanwhile the Belgian people — for the 
common good, said Baron von der Lancken — had to deprive 
themselves of fuel during the most intense cold. 

366 



RESTRICTION OF USE OF COAL 367 

Among the steps mentioned by the chief of the political 
department in his letter to the Cardinal, we must note the 
closing of all educational establishments through lack of 
heating power. 



CHAPTER XXXVII 

THE CARDINAL'S PASTORAL LETTER, "COURAGE, 
BRETHREN !" 

The Cardinal's Lenten Pastoral for the year 1917, be- 
ginning, "Courage, brethren," was read in all the churches 
of the diocese on Sunday, February 25th. 

It was divided into two sections. In the first the Cardi- 
nal dilated upon the moral greatness of the nation; he did 
homage to the valor of the army and the prisoners, the 
patience of the refugees, the firmness of the Government and 
the undaunted courage of the King. "If," said he, "there 
were some dark clouds in the sky, they would dissolve in the 
course of history and allow nothing to shine forth but the 
moral beauty of the nation, its glowing patriotism, its 
staunch resolve. The grand lessons of military heroism and 
patriotism given by the Belgian people would serve to edu- 
cate the mind of generations to come." 

In the second section the Cardinal dwelt on the gran- 
deur of the Christian spirit. "If natural moral virtues be 
worthy of esteem, charity alone, which Christ infuses into 
the soul, gives virtue its full significance and strictly speak- 
ing merits eternal reward." 

The Pastoral ended with an exhortation to confidence 
and acts of adoration and love of God, and of submission to 
His holy will. 

Baron von Bissing, considering that the Cardinal had 
again issued a political manifesto, wrote him as follows : 

Government General of Belgium, Brussels, 

February 27th, 1917. 
To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of 
Malines. 
On the 25th inst. your Eminence ordered a Pastoral to 
be read in all the churches, a whole chapter of which is 

368 



"COURAGE, BRETHREN!" 369 

taken up with purely political matters. I must raise a vig- 
orous protest against the abuse which has been made of 
the liberty of worship, hitherto accorded, in order to pro- 
mote a political agitation. By issuing this manifesto, di- 
rected against the occupying power, your Eminence has 
again sadly disillusioned me of the hope I was justified in 
forming, in view of the repeated declarations of the Holy 
Father. If, after this incident, I refrain from taking seri- 
ous measures it is solely because of my regard for the Holy 
See and for the sake of religious peace in occupied territory. 
For an action of this nature a simple priest, according to 
the orders now in force, would render himself liable to legal 
proceedings. Nor can I refrain from expressing to your 
Eminence my surprise that you should issue a public mani- 
festo of this kind at the very time when, in common with a 
certain number of well-known personages in the occupied 
territory, you have just addressed an appeal to his Majesty 
the Kaiser in the interests of the unemployed. This act of 
your Eminence deters me from promising, as I have done, 
my support to the above appeal. 

Receive the assurance of my sincere esteem. 

(Signed) Baron von Bissing, 

Lieutenant General. 

The Cardinal hastened to justify his conduct by assert- 
ing that his duty was to encourage, lead and support his 
beloved people struggling in the midst of the most cruel 
sufferings. 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 

March 3^, 19 17. 
To His Excellency Baron von Bissing, Governor General, 
Brussels. 

Sir — The letter I. 1799, with which your Excellency 
has honored me, under date of February 27th, only reached 
me yesterday, March 2d, and I avail myself of my first 
leisure moment to answer it. 

May I beg your Excellency to be so good as to abstract 
for a moment from your position as a soldier and the chief 
representative of the occupying power to hearken to those 



370 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

feelings which cause a responsive echo in the heart of every 
Christian and thrill his very soul ? I do not ask more than 
that in order to rest assured that you will not hold fast to 
your first decision. 

Be so good, Excellency, as to look the facts in the face. 
Just as Our Holy Father Benedict XV, in his consistorial 
address of December 4th, 19 16, proclaimed so nobly before 
the Church and before the world, considerable numbers of 
inoffensive citizens are dragged from their mothers, their 
wives and their weeping children and led off into captivity 
far from their native land. We have seen them go dejected 
in mind, though sound in body, and we have seen them 
come back wizened, emaciated, a prey to> tuberculosis in 
the proportion of six to ten, thus creating a dire menace for 
generations to come. 

Every family is in dread. Tales of sorrow come to us 
from every side, and how can we in face of this remain 
unmoved witnesses of our beloved people's anguish? No, 
Excellency, a power which only took count of exterior dis- 
cipline might make this claim. A man with a heart would 
not uphold it. 

I regret having to raise my voice in public at a moment 
when people are speaking about the generous efforts dis- 
played by your Excellency to prevent fresh deportations and 
to mitigate the effects of those already carried out — at a 
moment when I had just signed a confident appeal to his 
Imperial Majesty. But it is needful to take account of the 
complex situation created for us by events. We are face to 
face with a power which has at its disposal the means of 
might; but around us are a people weak, agonized and 
suffering; we have to respect the one without neglecting the 
other. I am ready, with God's grace, for every personal 
sacrifice, but one cannot ask a shepherd to take no interest 
in his flock. It is inconceivable that he should see it dis- 
persed and hear its cries without trying, at least, with the 
poor means at his disposal, to prove that he still leads them 
and that he will not forsake them. 

Would your Excellency kindly read again with an im- 
partial eye my Pastoral of February nth? You will find 



"COURAGE, BRETHREN!" 371 

therein nothing but the expression of sentiments of kindly 
solicitude. I have no intention of wounding any one what- 
ever, nor of being aggressive. I merely confine myself 
to encouraging a people who are dear to me and of whom 
I am, by my vocation, the leader and mainstay. The faith- 
ful understand me; my words incite no one to rebellion, 
whereas in the case of many I know it has brought them 
peace of mind. 

Accept, sir, the expression of my sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

Baron von der Lancken, having in the course of an 
interview with Mgr. Legraive, complained of the Pastoral, 
"Courage, My Brethren," the Cardinal wrote him as fol- 
lows: 

Archbishop' s House, Malines, 
Louvain, March 6th, 1917. 
To Baron von der Lancken, Chief of the Political Depart- 
ment, Government General, Brussels. 

Dear Baron — You were so kind as to inform me through 
his Lordship, Mgr. Legraive, that, thanks to your pressing 
instances, Mile. Douterlinge will escape capital punishment. 
I rejoice with the family and thank you for your kind and 
effective intervention. 

In the course of your interview with my Auxiliary 
Bishop it appears that you passed severe judgment on my 
last Pastoral and expressed annoyance at a letter addressed 
by me to a club of young Frenchmen. On this last point you 
have been led astray, for I have not written either to any 
young men's club or to any French newspaper. 

As regards my Pastoral, you must be acquainted by this 
time with the correspondence on this topic exchanged be- 
tween the Governor General and myself. I cannot expect 
you to tell me that you are satisfied with my answer, but you 
cannot deny that in forming a judgment about the meaning 
or expediency of my Pastoral, we must look at it from two 
points of view — that of the occupier and that of the unfor- 
tunate people whose territory is occupied. 



372 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

You must acknowledge that the military power of Ger- 
many could not have conceived anything more opposed to its 
longing for peace than the forcible and woeful deporta- 
tions, which have aroused universal indignation. 

Accept, dear Baron, the expression of my sincere esteem. 

(Signed) t). J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 



Baron von der Lancken could think of nothing better to 
justify the action of the occupying power than to appeal to 
wartime necessities: 

Political Department of the Government General, 

Brussels, March gth, 191 7. 
To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of 
Malines. 

Your Eminence's esteemed letter, dated the 6th inst, 
has duly come to hand. I did, as you say, discuss with 
Mgr. Legraive your last Pastoral and your letter published 
by the Parisian press. As regards this last, I take the lib- 
erty to send your Eminence an extract from the "Vingtieme 
Siecle." According to this, the letter was not addressed di- 
rectly to the "Revue des Jeunes," but to one of its staff of 
writers. 

I only revert to the Pastoral in order to pass a criticism 
on the remark made by your Eminence that we must dis- 
tinguish between the occupying power and the occupied 
country. The occupied country will understand many things 
done by the occupying power, if it makes an attempt to ap- 
preciate the latter's point of view. It will then realize that 
the occupying power has to take count of the necessities 
of war imposed on it, and that it by no means acts in an 
arbitrary manner. The occupying power will, of course, 
look upon all criticism of its administration as unwar- 
ranted, if no account be taken of the circumstances. 

I offer to your Eminence the expression of my sincere 
esteem. 

(Signed) Lancken. 



"COURAGE, BRETHREN!" 373 

Inclosed with this letter was the following extract from 
the "Vingtieme Siecle," dated February 24th, 191 7: 



AN UNPUBLISHED LETTER OF CARDINAL MERCIER 



Undaunted Loyalty of French and Bel- 
gians Under Hardships 



The "Revue des Jeunes" will publish tomorrow the fol- 
lowing letter which one of its correspondents has just re- 
ceived from Cardinal Mercier: 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 

January 15 th, 1917. 
Dear Sir — Mr. X has furnished me with a tan- 
gible proof of your kindness toward myself and my suf- 
fering flock. I appreciate it greatly and I thank you for it. 
Indeed, Belgium is being sorely tried and the sufferings of 
the populations of northern France are not less keen. But, 
thank God, our courage does not flag. Our people, I mean 
the lower classes, they who have to bear the brunt of priva- 
tions, are wonderful for their steadfastness. This week I 
went through the byways and alleys of a little town — Lierre 
— which the invaders had already looted in August, 19 14, 
and from which they had just kidnapped 1,000 able-bodied 
men. I went from house to house to see the families of the 
deported. I had to dry many tears and to comfort many in 
sorrow. I have heard hard words about the tyrants who 
brutally smash up our homes, but I have not heard either a 
wife or a mother asking for peace at any price. We suffer, 
but we abide our time. Victory, reparation and necessary 
guarantees are what we count on. The Americans in charge 
of the feeding of the French populations report that your 
own people are animated with the same generous senti- 
ments. With you, this spectacle is less surprising, as a 
Frenchman is temperamentally and traditionally generous. 
Historically he is the embodiment of warlike valor and of 
chivalry, whereas with us, who have enjoyed a long spell 



374 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

of peace and possess a less sanguine temperament, the in- 
tense loyalty shown during the last two years amazes us 
and inspires us with a sentiment, perhaps childishly exag- 
gerated, of self-admiration. 

You will understand and excuse this feeling, at all 
events in the case of the bishop, the father of his flock, 
and if I make much of it, it is to explain the comfort you 
have given me by your kind thoughtfulness. 

I pray God to reward you for it, to bless you and yours 
and the noble French nation, and I offer you, sir, the assur- 
ance of my sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of M alines. 



CHAPTER XXXVIII 

CONDEMNATION OF MGR. LEGRAIVE, AUXILIARY BISHOP OF 
MALINES, AND OF M. L'ABBE ALLAER 

On the finding of the court-martial at Antwerp, Mgr. 
Legraive, Bishop Auxiliary of Malines, was condemned to 
nine months' imprisonment for showing hospitality to a 
young Frenchman on his way to the frontier, and Abbe 
Allaer to eight months as an accomplice. The Cardinal 
learned of these sentences on his way through Brussels, 
after a few days' absence. He discovered at the same time 
that Baron von der Lancken, through the Nuncio, had 
advised him to ask for Mgr. Legraive's reprieve. Accord- 
ingly, he at once sent in an appeal to the Governor General 
of this tenor: 

St. Louis's Institute, Brussels, 

March 17 th, 19 17. 
To His Excellency Baron von Bissing, Governor General, 
Brussels. 
Sir — In returning this evening to Brussels after a few 
days' absence, I learn to my amazement that the court- 
martial sitting at Antwerp has just sentenced Mgr. Le- 
graive, my Bishop Auxiliary, to nine months' imprisonment. 
I feel that your Excellency will mercifully quash this 
sentence, the more so because I happen to know that the act 
was inspired, as Mgr. Legraive avers, by motives of char- 
ity. I hope also that the Abbe Allaer, spiritual adviser to 
the seminary, who has been sentenced to eight months' 
imprisonment, will experience similar leniency. 

Accept, sir, the assurance of my sincere esteem. 
(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

375 



376 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

The next day the Cardinal begged for permission to 
visit Mgr. Legraive at Antwerp : 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 

March iSth, 19 17. 
To Baron von der Lancken, Chief of the Political Depart- 
ment of the Government General, Brussels. 
Dear Baron — I am very anxious to visit this afternoon 
his Lordship Mgr. Legraive in prison. Would you kindly 
procure me the necessary authority to do so or warn the 
governor of the prison by telephone ? I will arrange to be 
at Antwerp between 4 and 5. 

Accept, sir, the expression of my sincere esteem. 
(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

A few moments after sending this letter the Cardinal 
learned that Mgr. Legraive had already been sent to Ger- 
many. He expressed hi& surprise to Baron von der 
Lancken : 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 

March 18 th, 19 17. 
To Baron von der Lancken, Chief of the Political Depart- 
ment of the Government General, Brussels. 
Dear Baron — Yesterday, on my arrival at Brussels, I 
learned that his Excellency the Nuncio was urging me, on 
your advice, to send in a petition for the reprieve of Mgr. 
Legraive, my Auxiliary Bishop. And this morning I learn 
that yesterday Mgr. Legraive had already arrived in Ger- 
many. I have tried in vain to account for the coinci- 
dence. 

Accept, dear Baron, the assurance of my sincere esteem. 
(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

Three days later Mgr. Legraive, having received a re- 
prieve, returned to his country after spending forty-eight 
hours in the camp at Siegburg. The Cardinal hastened to 
thank Baron von Bissing for his intervention. 



CONDEMNATION OF MGR. LEGRAIVE 377 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 

March 2ist y 19 17. 
To His Excellency Baron von Bissing, Governor General, 
Brussels. 
Sir — At this very moment Mgr. Legraive returns to 
us from Germany. The reprieve granted him is the result 
of your prompt and powerful intervention. I am only 
doing my duty in expressing to you how grateful I feel 
and at the same time I offer to you the assurance of my 
sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

The Cardinal also thanked Baron von der Lancken for 
the share he had had in releasing Mgr. Legraive and asked 
him to use his influence to obtain the Governor General's 
clemency on behalf of Abbe Allaer. 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 

March 2 2 d, 19 17. 
To Baron von der Lancken, Chief of the Political Depart- 
ment of the Government General, Brussels. 
Dear Baron — I have heard of the large share you had 
in the speedy release of Mgr. Legraive and I hasten to 
thank you. The joy of the seminarists at the return of their 
venerable and beloved president knew no bounds. The 
clergy and myself are still very much concerned because 
Abbe Allaer was not able to return with his companion 
in captivity, while his aged mother is pining away in her 
loneliness. But we still hope that the Governor General's 
clemency will soon reach this worthy and deserving priest. 

I take the liberty of confiding to your care the inclosed 
letter addressed to the Governor General.* 

Accept, my dear Baron, the assurance of my sincere 
esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

*The Cardinal asked in this letter for the repatriation of twenty-two 
deported people. 



378 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 
Baron von der Lancken replied in these terms: 

Political Department of the Government General, 

Brussels, March 23d, 19 17. 
To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of 
Malines. 

I am greatly obliged to your Eminence for your ac- 
knowledgment of my efforts to effect Mgr. Legraive's re- 
lease. If Abbe Allaer is to be set at liberty it would, at 
least, be necessary to draw up a regular petition. I leave 
it to your Eminence to write in this sense to the Governor 
General.* For my part I am not in a position, unfortu- 
nately, to take any new steps. I have sent on to the Gov- 
ernor General your Eminence's two letters, dated January 
2 2d, the one to thank him for the reprieve of Mgr. Le- 
graive, the other asking for the repatriation of twenty-two 
deported persons. Applications dealing with each indi- 
vidual case were not inclosed with the letter. I beg your 
Eminence to send them to me, since the Governor General 
is disposed to support your appeal. 

I offer to your Eminence the expression of my sincere 
esteem. 

(Signed) Lancken. 

•Abbe Allaer was not released until the beginning of June. 



CHAPTER XXXIX 

DEATH OF BARON VON BISSING 

In the morning of April I ith the adjutant of Count von 
Bismarck, Kreischef of Malines, called on the Cardinal in 
the name of the chief of the political department, with 
official intimation of the death of Baron von Bissing, which 
occurred in the evening of the previous day. On receipt of 
this communication the Cardinal wrote. Baron von ider 
Lancken the following letter: 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 

April igth, 19 17. 
To Baron von der Lancken, Chief of the Political Depart- 
ment of the Government General, Brussels. 
I am very much affected by your kind attention and wish 
to express my gratitude. Baron von Bissing was a believer; 
I remember he said one day in unmistakable accents: "I 
am not a Catholic, but I believe in Christ." I shall pray 
to our Lord in all sincerity for the repose of his soul. 
Accept, sir, the expression of my sincere esteem. 
(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 



379 



CHAPTER XL 

BARON VON FALKENHAUSEN SUCCEEDS BARON VON BISSING 

FIRST RELATIONS OF THE CARDINAL WITH 

THE GOVERNOR GENERAL 

On April 24th Baron von Falkenhausen was nominated 
in the place of Baron von Bissing. A prudent intermediary 
expressed to the Cardinal his wish to know whether he 
wanted to enter into personal relations with the new Gov- 
ernor General. In view of the then existing state of public 
feeling, his Eminence considered that an exchange of visits 
would not be expedient. Upon this Baron von Falkenhausen 
commissioned the chief of the political department to an- 
nounce officially to the Cardinal his nomination to the post 
of Governor General and to assure him that he would be 
ready at all times to insure liberty of worship to the Bel- 
gians. 

In reply to this official announcement, the Cardinal sent 
the following letter to Baron von Falkenhausen: 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 

May 10th, 19 17. 
To His Excellency Baron von Falkenhausen, Governor Gen- 
eral, Brussels. 
Sir — I must thank you for your Excellency's kind fore- 
thought in announcing to me officially, through the kind 
offices of Baron von der Lancken, your appointment to the 
Governor Generalship of Belgium. But what particularly 
gratified me is the assurance you gave in that letter, that 
religious liberty would be always effectively protected in 
Belgium and that your Excellency would do your best to 
safeguard it. 

I am intrusting this letter to my Vicar General, Mgr. 

380 



BARON VON FALKENHAUSEN 381 

Van Roey, who will deliver it personally at the Government 
House and reiterate to the delegate of your Excellency 
the expression of my thanks and sincere esteem. 

Please accept the assurance of my sincere esteem. 

^Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 



CHAPTER XLI 

THE CARDINAL RECOMMENDS TO BARON VON FALKEN- 

HAUSEN THE RELIGIOUS INTERESTS OF WORKMEN AT 

THE MALINES ARSENAL AND OF PERSONS 

DETAINED ON SUSPICION 

Archbishop' s House, Malines, 

May 12th, 1 9 17. 
To His Excellency Baron von Falkenhausen, Governor Gen- 
eral, Brussels. 

Sir — Emboldened by your Excellency's expressed wish to 
protect the religious interests of our people, I should like 
to recommend to your solicitude the workmen of the cen- 
tral works at Malines. I refrain from speaking of the 
conditions under which these workmen have been engaged at 
the arsenal. But the Bishop of the diocese has been sad- 
dened to find that it has been made morally impossible for 
these poor workmen, who for the most part belong to Chris- 
tian families, to hear mass on Sundays. Not only are they 
deprived of their Sunday's rest, but their work begins at 6 
a. m. — too early for the first mass and only ends at noon, 
too late for the last masses. I have also the honor of call- 
ing your attention to the spiritual destitution of people 
detained on suspicion. As long as their cases are in process 
of investigation they are precluded from assisting at mass 
and are thus hindered from fulfilling their religious duties 
and deprived of their chief spiritual consolation. I may 
mention that the internal arrangements of our prison chapels 
are such as to effectively prevent all intercommunication be- 
tween the prisoners. I will be obliged to your Excellency 
for your favorable attention to both these petitions. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier. 

The Governor General replied through the chief of the 
political department that he would institute an inquiry into 
the points raised by his Eminence. 

382 



RELIGIOUS INTERESTS OF WORKMEN 383 

When the inquiry, which lasted more than a month, was 
concluded, Baron von der Lancken informed the Cardinal 
that his request had been granted, so far as circumstances 
would allow. As a matter of fact, things remained more or 
less in statu quo. 

The Cardinal, while thanking Baron von der Lancken 
for the paltry concessions he had obtained, again insists 
upon receiving adequate satisfaction. He complains, at the 
same time, of the vexatious measures to which he is sub- 
jected by the Government General. 

Archbishop' s House, Malines, 

July 19th, 19 1 7. 
To Baron von der Lancken, Chief of the Political Depart- 
ment, Government General, Brussels. 

Dear Baron — My Vicar General has had the honor to 
give you a provisional answer to the letter which you were 
good enough to write me on the 10th ultimo. Neverthe- 
less, I must revert to the subject matter of your corre- 
spondence because I attach great importance to it and, 
thanks to your gracious intervention, do not despair of ulti- 
mately obtaining redress. 

You are kind enough to inform me that, from a religious 
point of view, an improvement has been effected in the 
prison regime. Though I must confess I do not exactly 
perceive in what this mitigation consists, yet I am glad the 
lot of the prisoners has been softened and thank you for 
the efforts you have made to bring it about. 

As regards the Malines arsenal, you allege that even 
before the war work was in full swing and went on with- 
out interruption even on Sundays. In this I am obliged to 
say you have been misinformed, for it is only since the 
occupation that the workmen have been deprived of their 
liberty to assist at mass. 

I am very grateful to you for having obtained for them 
one free Sunday out of four; but the fact remains that on 
the other three Sundays of the month they are compelled to 
work, and the government withholds facilities for perform- 
ing their religious duties. The earliest masses are said at 
6:30; they go on, together with the sermon, until 7:15, 



384 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

whereas, according to the regulations, the workmen are 
obliged to sign on at the arsenal at 7 a. m. Thus hun- 
dreds of workmen are precluded from obeying the dictates 
of their conscience. 

Your government plumes itself on making the fulfill- 
ment of their religious duties compulsory on every one in 
your army. Why then refuse the Belgians what you com- 
mand Germans to do? 

You appeal to pressure of work. Really, if instead of 
opening the gates of the arsenal at 7 a. m., you were to 
open them at 9 a. m., do you think work would suffer seri- 
ously? Is it not already enough that our poor workmen 
are forced to exhaust their strength every day of the week 
in the service of their enemies ? 

I said, Baron, that you have been misled by the people 
commissioned to inform you. Does not the incident brought 
to my notice yesterday supply an additional proof? I 
have not expressed to anybody my intention of going to St. 
Gudule's on the 21st of this month. I decided on the 
contrary, several weeks ago, to sing the Te Deum in my 
cathedral, and I have informed the Metropolitan Chapter 
of my decision. The author of the report which annoyed 
you has therefore invented his story in every detail, and it 
is upon reports of this nature that the German Headquar- 
ters are disturbed, threaten, fix their decisions, etc. . . . ! 

Can you not put an end to this irritating procedure? 

Again, on the 12th instant, after the funeral of the 
late lamented M. Scholaeert at St. Gudule's, I lunched in 
the strictest privacy with a friend. Just as I was taking 
my seat again in my carriage, I was amazed to see a group 
of about twenty people of the lower classes prowling about 
just outside the house. Their presence was accounted for 
by two armed sentries, who were lying in wait for my exit 
and spying on my movements. I saw these two sentries with 
my own eyes, and bearing arms, too ! 

Is this meant for a joke? But if some day the joke 
becomes a tragedy, who is to be made answerable for it? 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier. 

Archbishop of Malines. 



CHAPTER XLII 

THE CARDINAL'S ATTITUDE TOWARD PARTITION OF 
ADMINISTRATION 

The German Government, wishing to break up Belgian 
national unity, included in its program of reconstruction in 
Belgium a regime of administrative separation. 

This work of disintegration was begun in November, 
191 6, by doubling certain branches of the service in the 
Ministry of Science and Art, thus creating two classes of 
officials, whose duty it was to control education in the 
Flemish and Walloon provinces, respectively. To pacify 
the minds of the officials in charge, the German civil ad- 
ministration informed them that the question was but one 
of internal order and had nothing to do with separatist 
administration. 

On March 23d, 191 7, the occupying power threw off 
the mask. By way of fulfilling the promise made by the 
Imperial Chancellor some weeks previously to the mem- 
bers of the traitorous "Conseil des Flandres," who had gone 
to visit him in Berlin, he had an order published according 
to which Belgium was to be divided into two administrative 
districts, the first with its headquarters at Brussels, the 
second at Namur. On receiving this news, Belgian national 
feeling was deeply stirred and numerous protests were made 
to the Governor General by prominent persons in the coun- 
try. 

Senators and deputies belonging to all parties met and 
deliberated on the attitude of passive resistance they ought 
to take toward the order of March 23d. Some of them 
considered that all officials in the central administration 
ought to resign; others went so far as to recommend the 
resignation of all officials, even purely local ones, magis- 

385 



386 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

trates, mayors, teachers, etc. The opinion which prevailed 
and to which in the end the members unanimously assented 
was that only the highest officials of the central administra- 
tion should resign and that lower officials should be free 
either to resign or remain at their posts. 

The Belgian Government, on being consulted, explicitly 
approved of this modified solution, urging, however, the 
officials of the exchequer to delay their resignations for the 
time being. 

The occupying power was not slow in taking steps 
against refractory officials. On the pretext that in with- 
drawing the declaration of loyalty, which they had signed 
at the beginning of the occupation, and refusing to continue 
giving their services they were setting up active resistance 
against the carrying out of legal provisions, the government 
had them deported to Germany. 

The Cardinal made an energetic protest to Baron von 
Falkenhausen against these flagrant violations of interna- 
tional law and The Hague convention. 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 

June 6th, 19 17. 
To His Excellency Baron von Falkenhausen, Governor Gen-, 
eral, Brussels. 

Sir — Since the beginning of the occupation of Belgian 
soil by armed force, the representatives of the Imperial 
Government fully understood that the administration of 
our country had to be organized in conformity with inter- 
national law. 

To the various classes of officials forming part of the 
civil administration, Baron von Bissing, basing his action 
on The Hague convention, addressed an invitation, whose 
burden, if we prescind from the variants of diction, was 
as follows for all of them: 

"Do you agree to fulfill under my general administra- 
tion the offices you held under the Belgian Government? 
Not otherwise than my predecessor, Baron von der Goltz, 
I do not ask you to lay on one side your national spirit; 
rather, I appeal for your co-operation in the public interest. 



PARTITION OF ADMINISTRATION 387 

You will continue to receive your salaries out of the Belgian 
treasury for which I am temporarily responsible, under one 
condition: that you undertake to fulfill your duties loyally 
and to do nothing which would militate against the German 
administration of the occupied provinces of Belgium." 

On this occasion several men engaged in government 
work submitted a case of conscience to the religious authori- 
ties for solution: Could they without detriment to their 
patriotism and loyalty toward the legitimate government 
yield obedience to a foreign administration? This was a 
thorny and delicate question. 

At the first sitting of The Hague conference (1899), 
the delegate sent by the Netherlands Government, M. Van 
Karnebeek, declared that "he resented the introduction of 
any clause which appeared to empower, either directly 
or indirectly, the officials of an invaded territory to place 
themselves at the disposal of the conqueror." Nevertheless, 
the conference took a broader view of the matter. It quite 
realized that were certain officials to remain at their posts 
in invaded territory, they would frequently perform their 
duties much better, at least, morally speaking, toward the 
population. 

Notwithstanding this, both at the Brussels conference 
in 1874 and The Hague conference in 1899, the official 
representatives intrusted with the task of drawing up a code 
of international law, laid great stress not only on the claim 
of officials to liberty of action, either in resuming their duties 
when the occupying power invites them to do so or in declin- 
ing to resume them, but also on the liberty of resigning after 
having once agreed to resume the various duties. 

I would invite your Excellency to read over again 
Article IV of the Brussels conference of 1874 and the pro- 
tocols of the same conference and you will find there, sup- 
porting the liberty of officials, the explicit declarations of M. 
Beernaert and Baron Lambermont, for Belgium; M. Lands- 
berge, for Holland; M. Vedel, for Denmark, and Colonel 
Staaf, for Sweden and Norway. I appeal to the testimony 
of neutral countries, as they are indisputable arbitrators of 
international law. 



388 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

I would also invite your Excellency to read through 
again the protocol of The Hague conference of 1899 and 
the Rolin report, which is an authentic commentary on the 
articles voted by this conference. Your Excellency would 
see that the conference unanimously denies "the right of the 
occupier to constrain directly or indirectly any class of 
employes of the occupied state to resume their duties." 

Seeing that the Government General in Brussels at the 
end of the year 19 14 sheltered its invitation to the public 
officials in Belgium behind The Hague convention, I formed 
my conscience according to its provisions and answered my 
harassed inquirers : 

"The contract submitted for your signature prior to 
your engagement includes nothing which compromises your 
consciences on the score of morality or religion or loyalty 
to your country. You may, therefore, sign it without for- 
feiting either your honor or your patriotism. Your services 
contribute, indeed, toward the national weal. I do not doubt 
that the Belgian Government, were it possible to consult it, 
would ratify your acceptance. You are not, therefore, want- 
ing in loyalty. As regards the engagement you are required 
to enter into, 'to undertake nothing against German admin- 
istration in the occupied territories,' it commands you to re- 
spect both public order and the regulations needful to main- 
tain it. None of you has the intention to break them. But 
if some day the conditions of the contract submitted for your 
acceptance were to change their character, you would always 
be free to repudiate it. Both natural -and international law 
confer as well as guarantee your liberty in so acting." 

What was but a surmise in 19 14 is now unfortunately 
a fact. 

The decree concerning separate administration, which 
tends to throw the whole of the administration into con- 
fusion and to break up our national unity, places the state 
officials in a situation which many of them believe offends 
their self-respect and wounds their consciences. They are 
thus within their rights in resigning their posts. 

Do not let the lawful exercise of a right be punished 
either with exile or imprisonment. The regulation attached 



PARTITION OF ADMINISTRATION 389 

to Article 43 of The Hague convention of October 18th, 
1907, stipulates that, save where absolutely impossible, the 
occupying power must respect the laws in force in a country. 
Nothing hinders the occupying power from respecting the 
civil organization of our general administration. 

The questions of Belgian home politics concern Bel- 
gians alone and cannot be solved except by the Belgian 
Parliament or Government or by the King of the Belgians. 
Your Excellency must be badly informed respecting the rea- 
sons why the various public officials resigned their posts. 
When you have seen as in a brighter and nobler light the 
attitude of these courageous men, rather than proceed 
against them with vigor you will add your voice to that of 
every self-respecting man to pay them homage for their pru- 
dence and disinterestedness. I say their prudence advisedly 
because they prefer to take refuge in a positive refusal — 
non serviam — rather than act in secret to the prejudice of an 
administration they can no longer loyally serve ; to their dis- 
interestedness, because they have laid the sacrifice of their 
own interest and the safety of their hearths and homes on 
the altar of their country. 

I beg of you to hearken to the voice of those who 
know intimately the Belgian people and their history, when 
they affirm that no violence will ever triumph over their 
patriotism. 

Receive, sir, the expression of my sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

The Governor General confined himself to answering 
that he declined to discuss with the Cardinal any questions 
other than those of a religious character. 

The Holy See, through the medium of the Nuncio, 
manifested a desire to be accurately informed as to the at- 
titude of the Belgian episcopate toward the administrative 
separation imposed on Belgium by the occupying power. 
The Cardinal complied with this request in a long and 



390 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

detailed letter addressed to his Holiness Pope Benedict 
XV.* 

M alines, August $th } 19 17. 

Most Holy Father — I regard it as my duty to give 
to Your Holiness exact information as to the attitude of the 
Belgian episcopate toward the measures the occupying power 
has decreed in order to accomplish what it terms "adminis- 
trative separation." 

In reality it is not with measures of administration 
that we have to deal, but with an attempt to effect national 
disruption. No one doubts this in Belgium and no one out- 
side Belgium will have any doubt of it after the publication 
of the late Baron von Bissing's "Denkschrift" or Memoirs. 
In it our former Governor General lays bare his hope 
that in flattering the crude aspiration of a few ardent 
Flemings of a separatist frame of mind Germany will, on 
the one hand, ultimately succeed in detaching them in affec- 
tion and perhaps also in fact from the Walloon part of 
the population, and on the other hand will hinder their 
withdrawal from under the hegemony of the German Em- 
pire. Belgians have come to the conclusion that they must 
oppose by all legitimate means this anti-national policy, 
while the almost complete unanimity of the Flemings as 
well as the Walloons, embracing Belgian citizens of every 
party, whether in the occupied or unoccupied parts of the 
country, have rallied around their King and Government. 

The Belgian episcopate has considered that it ought 
not to be last in the ranks of those who do their duty, while 
for my part I have not only in private conversations, but also 
first at a deans' meeting, a second time at a meeting of the 
rectors of episcopal colleges, and a third time at a meeting 
of the masters and mistresses of the training schools, clearly 
declared what is our patriotic duty and at the same time 
what our Christian conscience dictates in such a contingency. 

In a Pastoral issued by me long before the war — on the 

*This letter was read by the Cardinal in the course of a retreat preached 
to the clergy at the beginning of September and was taken down by one 
of the retreatants and published in "Cinquante Mois d'Occupation Alle- 
mande" by L. Gille, A. Corns and Delands-Herre, Brussels, 1919, Vol. Ill, 
pp. 412-418. 



PARTITION OF ADMINISTRATION 391 

feast of the Epiphany, 19 10, to be precise — I said that 
patriotism, which, following St. Thomas, I called patriotic 
piety, is binding in conscience to such an extent that to 
fail therein in serious matters is to commit a grievous sin. 

Taking my inspiration from this principle, I declared to 
the deans that anybody countenancing these attempts to 
break up our national unity would be a traitor to his coun- 
try, and to the directors of the seminaries and episcopal 
colleges I added that I forbade our seminarists and young 
students to take part in such partisan meetings, where, under 
cover of what they term activist propaganda, the King, as 
well as the religious authorities, is insolently attacked. 

While we were issuing these general directions to our 
clergy the occupying power multiplied its separatist efforts 
to attain its own ends. At the outset it proceeded slowly 
and stealthily. But so early as November, 1916, it dupli- 
cated certain posts at the Ministry of Sciences and Art, in- 
tending thereby to introduce a twofold set of officials, classi- 
fied in two categories, namely, Walloons and Flemings. But 
to soothe the consciences of those concerned, the German 
commissary formally declared that it was only a matter of 
internal economy special to the teaching services and by no 
means the beginning of a separatist administration for the 
whole country. In the city and district of Brussels and in 
the great towns of the Flemish provinces numerous families 
of Walloon extraction or of French customs give their chil- 
dren a partly French education. Various steps were taken 
to forbid this bi-lingualism. At last, on March 23d, 19 17, 
the Governor General threw off the mask and decreed the 
partition of the Belgian administration into sections, one 
Flemish and the other French, and created a separate cen- 
tral bureau for each of them. 

These measures are contrary to Article 43 of The 
Hague convention of October 18th, 1907, and are an in- 
fringement of our constitutional liberties in the matter of 
language. Until now the functions of the central adminis- 
tration were carried on by delegates of the lawful authority 
under the supervision of the occupying power. For the 
future there will be no central authority of national origin. 



392 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

The occupying power, in order to lead everybody outside 
Belgium to believe that this dual organization has the 
approval of one part of the nation, usurps the rights of the 
whole nation, and so well does it know this that it has tried 
to effect this change by resuscitating the hateful and gro- 
tesque comedy of the Council of Flanders. 

The staffs at the ministries, mindful of the loyalty they 
owe the Belgian Government, were prepared in great num- 
bers to resign their posts rather than lend a hand to a 
policy of national scission. 

Some persons, nevertheless, foreseeing reprisals at the 
hands of the occupying power, and more anxious to protect 
the private interests of officials' families or to safeguard 
certain party advantages than to preserve intact the supreme 
interest of national unity, would have advised all the staffs 
to humor the whims of the occupying power in order to 
avoid a greater evil. These two opinions were submitted 
to the government at Havre, which substantially replied as 
follows: "The higher officials ought to resign; the lower 
may remain at their posts." Immediately the directors 
general and the secretaries general of all the ministries 
complied with the wishes of the Belgian Government and 
were, just as was expected, led away captive to Germany. 

The occupying power thought itself capable of checking 
the exodus of the staffs by taking these violent measures, 
whereas all with very rare exceptions risked their family 
position and their liberty with a lofty disinterestedness that 
one could not but admire. The logical sequence of these 
events was that a fresh question arose, viz., what was to 
be done respecting the new dualist arrangement? Were 
we to treat with it, obey, or oppose it with passive resist- 
ance? 

Opinions were again divided; some deemed it best to 
break with rather than appear to recognize this new situa- 
tion; to close the colleges, the training and private schools. 
The majority, and I sided with these, refused to proceed 
to extremes at the first onset. The Belgian Government it- 
self gave the example of moderation, by not demanding 
from all officials equality of sacrifice. Duty called for a 



PARTITION OF ADMINISTRATION 393 

protest against a separatist administration, but practical life 
is made up of obstacles unsurmountable by formal logic. 
In consequence, we decided to leave the primary schools 
open in order not to consign our children to vagabondage, 
but we proceeded to draw up a protest in the case of the 
colleges and training schools for elementary teachers. 

There are in Belgium free normal schools, official nor- 
mal schools, communal and provincial schools and state nor- 
mal schools. There is, moreover, a central state board 
before which those who have not followed a regular course 
in the normal schools may appear. 

In the normal schools not belonging to the state a state 
delegate has the right to assist at the final examination 
and the certificates receive governmental approbation by a 
stamp being affixed to them. 

Now we decided after consulting the masters and mis- 
tresses concerned that the final examinations would take 
place as usual at the end of the scholastic year, but in pri- 
vate; that is to say, without inviting the German officials 
to assist at them and without submitting the certificates for 
their signature. 

We subsequently carried our decisions into effect quietly, 
unostentatiously and liberally. We anticipated the with- 
drawal of the subsidies granted to the normal schools by 
the state as well as the scholarships awarded to the scholars 
in subsequent years. What would happen to these schools? 
What would the parents say? All these questions were 
looked squarely in the face by those present at the meeting 
convened by us. They were peaceably solved in that spirit of 
national loyalty inspired by the motto : "Do thy duty, God 
will do the rest." 

A mistress of the normal school in Flemish Campine 
stated that she needed an annual sum of 15,000 francs to 
pay the salaries of her lay mistresses. All her school chil- 
dren belonged to Flemish families of the lower middle class. 
We were for the moment certain that the Belgian Govern- 
ment would in its turn legalize the certificates of our private 
boards and pay us the grants which the Germans might re- 
fuse, yet we had not absolute certainty. This particular 



394 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

mistress contented herself with saying: "Providence will 
provide." Yes, Providence will provide. It has provided. 
In fact, M. Poullet, our Minister of Science and Arts, wrote 
us congratulating the head teachers on their courageous 
attitude, promising that the certificates granted should be 
legalized on his return and the financial deficit met. The 
parents have raised no objection to this and the scholars 
with only one or two exceptions have approved. 

As soon as this decision was arrived at, I informed 
the official authorities responsible for the management of the 
normal, communal and provincial schools, and without hesi- 
tation they adopted our way of thinking and followed the 
same line of action as ourselves. In the state normal schools 
nobody could prevent the Germans from setting up a board 
to their liking. The board was set up, but the scholars 
themselves refused to appear before it. 

Our last remaining resource was the central board. 
Each pupil of our private schools had the right to present 
himself before it. By establishing a board of an official 
character on our premises we would actively have co-oper- 
ated in realizing the German plan; by permitting our pupils 
to go before a central board we should not assume any 
direct responsibility. It was, therefore, taken for granted 
that parents would decide whether or not it was expedient 
to present their children before this board, while we on our 
part stood aside. The central board was likewise a fiasco. 

Lastly, the certificates granted by the heads of colleges 
and schools on the completion of humanities had to be rati- 
fied by the central administration at the Ministry of Educa- 
tion. It was decided that these certificates should not, as 
was customary, be sent collectively to the Ministry, but that 
each individual pupil concerned could demand his certificate 
for himself and hand it in to be officially stamped. As a 
matter of fact no certificate was asked for or forwarded to 
the German central authorities. 

One can easily understand that after such a success, the 
organizers of separatist administration were disconcerted, 
disappointed and annoyed. But they only have themselves 
to thank if after three years of tyrannical government they 



PARTITION OF ADMINISTRATION 395 

have not yet formed even a vague idea of the psychology 
of the Belgian people. All things considered, it is our 
duty to render the annexation of Belgium as difficult as pos- 
sible for the Germans. 

I know quite well that all the neutrals do not share our 
opinion. It would have been so convenient for us to pro- 
test verbally and so save our principles, then bow our necks 
under the yoke in order to spare ourselves trouble. The 
same sentiments were voiced at the time of the infamous 
and brutal invasion of our territory by a military power 
before which we were fated to succumb. Belgium chose 
sacrifice. It is her glory in the sight of God and in the 
verdict of history. Confronted with the recent acts of ad- 
ministrative perfidy, Belgium could easily have silently ac- 
quiesced and could later have sent an academic protest to 
the authorities of the German empire. But this policy is not. 
according to the temper of our people. The Belgian does 
not love what savors of convention; he prefers deeds to 
words, but, at the same time, knows the value of modera- 
tion. 

In fact, the attitude of the nation in this question of 
separatist administration, "the gravest," said a diplomat 
to me, "that the Germans have raised since they first op- 
pressed under the pretense of ruling us," the attitude of the 
nation has been admirably moderate, that is to say, marked 
with calculated energy. Our temporary rulers had need of 
rare audacity in taxing us with sedition, when our conduct 
was so moderate in its resistance and so high-spirited in its 
refusal to submit. 

The truth is, the occupying power uses its resources to 
the utmost limit to drive us to desperation, and is amazed 
at not succeeding. We yield neither to cajolery nor to 
frightfulness, but during three years we have never once 
attempted an act of open rebellion. It is precisely this calm 
self-possession that the Prussian militarist fails to under- 
stand. 

While they venture to lodge complaint against our lack 
of respect for their bureaucratic regulations, they continue 
their deportations in the war zone, and, contrary to the 



396 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

highest authorities, they obstruct repatriation. Nine whole 
months, beginning on November nth, 191 6, have now 
gone by and thousands of inoffensive Belgian citizens re- 
duced to idleness through the calculated disorganization of 
our industries have suffered hunger, anguish, exhaustion in 
exile. By dint of wearing down their physical powers the 
Germans end by extorting a mere external consent to a 
system of compulsory labor their soul abhors, and then by 
distorting this forced acquiescence into a free act they 
enroll them in the list of voluntary workers, a class they 
are not bound to restore to their homes. Is this not odious 
enough? But let no one any longer trust in their sincerity 
when they announce under certain conditions of lamblike 
mildness and with the silent approval of occupied Belgium 
the termination of deportation. 

All the world knows that spies in the service of an 
enemy military power are punishable with death and we do 
not think of blaming the Germans for putting down real 
spying. But when ignorant, simple people count the trains 
that pass through their village station and then at the end 
of the week send the total number to a comrade who is fool- 
ishly believed to be in correspondence with the English 
army, when they are found boasting of their prowess in 
the conviction that they have saved their country, is it not 
criminal to condemn them by batches of eight, twelve or 
eighteen on a charge of espionage? And when out of a 
list of fifteen suspects of this kind three are pardoned, or 
two out of twenty, who are sent as a matter of course to 
penal servitude for life, ought one to reckon it mercy or 
cruelty? 

I am coming to the end of this long account, most Holy 
Father, but it was needful to make it complete or else risk 
a misunderstanding. 

I omitted to state that the Belgian hierarchy is unani- 
mous in condemning separatist administration and "activ« 
ism." In regard to this, the sentiments of all are known 
to me and I can assure you they are unanimous. 

In taking practical steps it is ordinarily very difficult, 
if not absolutely impossible, for us to act in concert. Ques- 



PARTITION OF ADMINISTRATION 397 

tions arise unexpectedly and demand instant solution. Jour- 
neys are very tiresome and slow, and intercourse by sealed 
letters impossible. With the Bishops of Ghent, Bruges and 
Tournay all communication is severed. I can only keep in 
correspondence with my colleagues of Namur and Liege. 
The moment the problem of education boards for the 
normal schools arose I sent a messenger to expound my 
views to these colleagues. The Bishop of Namur agreed 
with me at once, the Bishop of Liege hesitated chiefly for 
local reasons. At Liege, in fact, the liberals wanted either 
a radical clear-cut solution or submission to the decree, and 
the Bishop justly feared lest masters and mistresses trained 
in the neutral (irreligious) schools should fill the vacancies 
created in the free (religious) schools owing to absence of 
certified teachers trained in our colleges. At Ghent exami- 
nations had already begun when the question was raised in 
the provinces of Brabant and Antwerp, but the Bishop ex- 
pressed to me later on his keen regret that he had not known 
earlier the line of action which had been adopted. The 
Bishop of Tournay informed me of his own accord of his 
adhesion. At Bruges I do not know what happened, but as 
this town is being constantly subjected to bombing attacks, I 
imagine that studies and examinations receive only slight at- 
tention. I may add that even at Liege the bishop must have 
left much liberty to the training colleges, for several, accord- 
ing to what I hear, did not hold any legal examinations. 

In the name of our suffering country, in that of the 
Belgian episcopate and in my own, I respectfully thank Your 
Holiness for your fatherly care of us. I thank you for 
the quite special apostolic blessing which you have deigned 
to bestow on me and on dear Belgium through Cardinal 
Gasparri, and I beg you to renew in spirit this blessing 
for which we are always the more eager in proportion as 
our cross becomes heavier, and I place at Your Holiness's 
feet the homage of my most profound veneration and of 
my ardent filial duty. 

Your Holiness's most humble and obedient servant, 
(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 



CHAPTER XLIII 

ARREST OF CANON VRANCKEN, THE CARDINAL'S PRIVATE 

SECRETARY 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 

June 3 d, 19 17. 
To Baron von der Lancken, Chief of the Political Depart- 
ment, Government General, Brussels. 

On my return to Malines yesterday evening I had the 
joy of finding the Abbe Allaer released. I know the part 
you have taken in securing his liberation and I hasten to 
thank you. On the other hand, I was exceedingly grieved 
to learn that my private secretary, Canon Paul Vrancken, 
had been summoned to appear before the Antwerp court- 
martial on Wednesday and that the military prosecutor had 
asked for a year's imprisonment. 

You know, no doubt, the charge brought against Canon 
Vrancken. In a sermon preached at Malines on Whit- 
sunday he mentioned the heroic conduct, known to every 
one, of the twenty-three young men, who, on the appeal 
of the curate of St. Leger and with him, offered their lives 
to save those of the twenty-four fathers of families seized as 
hostages in August, 19 14, and sentenced by the German 
military authorities to be shot. 

Many persons present at the sermon bear witness that 
the orator did not utter a single offensive word either against 
the German army or the occupying power. I have seen him 
this morning in his cell. He is the soul of uprightness and 
he assures me that he had no aggressive intention. His 
arrest has amazed him. 

He is too valiant in suffering to desire an appeal for 
mercy, and in spite of the paternal affection I feel for 
him, I refrain from making one to the Governor Gen- 
eral. 

398 



ARREST OF CANON VRANCKEN 399 

But I feel I must call your attention to the following 
consideration: The action of the curate of St. Leger and 
of the twenty-three young men of his club is, morally speak- 
ing, so admirable that it will henceforth form a page of 
universal history. It is inscribed forever in the annals of 
mankind. 

Only think of the stigma which would rest forever on the 
name of your people should historians have no alternative 
but to add that for having paid his tribute of admiration 
to these young heroes, a Catholic priest had to suffer 
imprisonment and exile. 

Accept, Baron, the assurance of my sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

In spite of his Eminence's intervention, the Very Rev. 
Canon Vrancken was convicted and deported to Germany, 
where he was detained until hostilities were terminated. 



CHAPTER XLIV 

THE CARDINAL ACCUSES THE OCCUPYING POWER OF IGNOR- 
ING RELIGIOUS AUTHORITY HE AGAIN INSISTS ON 

OBTAINING PERMISSION TO SEND BELGIAN 

PRIESTS TO INTERNMENT CAMPS IN 

GERMANY 

Archbishop's House, M alines, 
July igth, 19 17. 
To His Excellency Baron von Falkenhausen, Governor Gen- 
eral, Brussels. 

Sir — In your letter of the 13th ult. your Excellency 
was good enough to write me that you were inclined to meet 
the wishes of the Belgian episcopate in church matters 
whenever such are brought to your notice. On the other 
hand, you insist on determining the limits of the jurisdictions 
proper to the ecclesiastical and political authorities. 

On this point I am in agreement with your Excellency, 
with this reservation, however, that questions bearing on the 
moral order cannot be alien to episcopal jurisdiction and 
consequently cannot be removed from my care. 

It is from the moral point of view that I have expressed 
an opinion on certain measures taken by the occupying power 
and formed a judgment as to the attitude adopted by cer- 
tain Belgian officials toward it. 

On the other hand, the occupying power ignored the 
spiritual authority of the diocese in an incident which oc- 
curred lately, and I beg your Excellency to kindly do me 
justice. 

A nun, of German extraction — Sister Celine — of the 
Convent of the Poor Servants of Mary Immaculate, Rue 
Boduognat, 19, Brussels, lodged a complaint with the Ger- 
man authorities against her superioress and sisters in re- 

400 



BELGIAN PRIESTS FOR PRISONERS 401 

ligion. It concerned certain difficulties regarding the inter- 
nal order of the convent and ought consequently to have 
been brought before our tribunal. 

My curia adopted an attitude of great condescension 
toward the German administration and showed special favor 
to Sister Celine by placing her, at the request of Baron von 
der Lancken,* in the Ursuline Convent at Haecht, where the 
superioress is a German. In spite of these conciliatory 
proceedings on our part, the German tribunal summoned to 
appear before it the superioress of the Convent of the Poor 
Servants of Mary Immaculate and condemned her to two 
years and nine months' imprisonment; Sister St. Pierre was 
sentenced to two and one-half months' imprisonment, and 
finally Sister St. Paul to eighteen months' imprisonment. 

Notwithstanding the fact that Sister Celine was received 
into her community out of charity and without a dowry, the 
German authorities have compelled the superioress of the 
convent in the Rue Boduognat to pay the German supe- 
rioress at Haecht 2,000 marks toward Sister Celine's main- 
tenance. 

I beg the Governor General to quash this judgment 
and to transfer Sister Celine's case to the ecclesiastical court 
of the Malines diocese. As it rested with the ecclesiastical 
authorities to remove Sister Celine, in case this were found 
to be expedient, I beg the Governor General to refund the 
2,000 marks to the superioress of the Poor Servants of 
Mary Immaculate, and to leave to the same authority the 
task of determining the conditions of Sister Celine's main- 
tenance at Haecht or elsewhere. 

I am forced to add that if I do not obtain satisfaction 
I regret I shall have no alternative but to refer the matter 
to the Holy See, for it is my duty to see that canon law is 
respected. I would also direct your Excellency's attention 
to another matter. 

While your predecessor was still at the head of the 

* Baron von der Lancken wrote Monsignor Legraive, asking him to 
transfer Sister Celine from the convent of the Rue Boduognat to the Ursuline 
Convent at Haecht. 



402 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

government in Belgium, I was pained to see two of my 
young priests, the Revs. Van Roy and Van Bergen, rebel 
against my authority. Without having sought the permis- 
sion of their ecclesiastical superiors, they deserted their 
posts, visited offices of your administration, where they ob- 
tained permission to pass into Germany. We have learned 
from newspaper articles that they have entered into rela- 
tions with a group of enemies of Belgian unity and have 
received passports for Gottingen. 

These two refractory priests, suspended by their Bishop, 
are exercising their ministry contrary to canon law at Got- 
tingen. 

I demand earnestly that this abuse be brought to an 
end.* 

I tried by every means in my power to get your predeces- 
sor to grant, and the Holy See has deigned to make repeated 
applications to Berlin to obtain, permission for Belgian 
priests, in communion with their bishops, or at least Dutch 
priests, to exercise their ministry for the benefit of our 
countrymen. 

All these efforts have been met by an obstinate refusal 
on the part of the German authorities. Only priests who 
are at loggerheads with their bishops enjoy the favors of 
the Empire in Germany. 

In the interests of ecclesiastical discipline, on the one 
hand, and of our countrymen interned in Germany on the 
other, I beg your Excellency to be so kind as to bring the 
Revs. Van Roy and Van Bergen back to Belgium and to 
authorize the Belgian bishops to send their countrymen, 
whether soldiers or civilians, interned in Germany, priests 
speaking both our national languages who retain the confi- 
dence of their superiors. 

I offer you, sir, the assurance of my sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier. 



* These two priests have since then acknowledged their fault and ex- 
pressed their deepest regret for having disobeyed the Cardinal's orders. 



BELGIAN PRIESTS FOR PRISONERS 403 

Government General of Belgium, Brussels, 
P. A. I. 5653. July 26th, 1917. 

To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of 
Malines. 

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your 
Eminence's esteemed letter of the 19th inst., which reached 
me on the 20th (the original is erroneously dated 19th). I 
am glad to note therein that your Eminence wishes to con- 
fine your relations with the occupying power to purely ec- 
clesiastical matters. Further on your Eminence reminds me 
that in my letter of June 13th I said that in what concerns 
church interests I would always take into consideration the 
requests made to me. On the strength of this assertion 
you ask me to withdraw orders, in issuing which certain of 
my subordinates are alleged to have been guilty of unjus- 
tifiably tampering with matters concerning the internal 
economy of the church. 

To this charge I venture to answer that: 

First. No German authority has "constrained" the 
superioress of the Poor Servants of Mary Immaculate to 
pay 2,000 marks for the maintenance of Sister Celine at 
the Ursuline Convent at Haecht, and if such an order had 
really been made, I would hasten to withdraw it. But your 
Eminence has been misinformed, and I cannot regard as 
purely ecclesiastical the fact that three French nuns have 
been punished for possessing and propagating noncensored 
publications and also for having insulted the Germans. Of- 
fenses against the common law committed by ecclesiastics 
fall everywhere within the competence of the ordinary 
courts. 

Second. As to the case of the two priests, Van Roy 
and Van Bergen, who are exercising their ministry in Ger- 
man internment camps, your Eminence, having entered into 
negotiations with the German ecclesiastical authorities, I 
have abstained entirely from interfering in this canonical 
dispute and will accept without question, so far as I am 
personally concerned, whatever decisions may be come to. 

On this occasion your Eminence again expresses the 
wish to obtain leave for the bishops to send Belgian priests 



404 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

into Germany. I am ready as my predecessor was to do 
what I can in this way, but the decision in this matter rests 
with the Berlin war office, to which is intrusted the supreme 
control of all internment camps. 

I offer to your Eminence the expression of my sincere 
esteem. 

(Signed) Von Falkenhausen, 

Lieutenant General. 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 

August i st t 19 1 7. 
To His Excellency Baron von Falkenhausen, Governor Gen- 
eral. 

Sir — In your esteemed letter of the 26th ult., you are 
good enough to renew the expression of your desire not 
to tolerate abuses of power which would encroach upon the 
prerogatives of religious authority, and according to the 
interpretation you give the facts I have called to your at- 
tention, the occupying Power has no cause to reproach it- 
self with any unwarrantable interference. This interpreta- 
tion needs to be clearly defined : 

First. According to your Excellency, the superioress 
of the Poor Servants of Mary Immaculate has not been con- 
strained (gezwungen) to pay a pension of 2,000 marks to 
the superioress of the Ursulines at Haecht for the main- 
tenance of Sister Celine. I conclude that in your Excel- 
lency's judgment, as in reality, the arranging of the pen- 
sion for a nun passing from one convent to another is a 
domestic concern, pertaining exclusively to the management 
of religious communities. Moreover, I conclude that the 
diocesan authority has full freedom to determine as it likes 
the amount of pension to be paid to the superioress of 
Haecht for the said nun. If I have misunderstood you, I 
beg you to put me right. 

Second. It goes without saying that German justice 
would not summon nuns to its tribunal and condemn them 
without seeking to justify its interference. You bring for- 
ward prohibitions (verboten) and personal conversations 
offensive to Germans. At this rate there is not a single 



BELGIAN PRIESTS FOR PRISONERS 405 

Belgian family the members of which are not liable to 
arrest. 

The fact against which I must continue to protest is 
quite simple. A German nun, instead of bringing her com- 
plaints, if she had any worthy of consideration, about petty 
domestic squabbles to the notice of the diocesan authorities, 
addresses herself to an incompetent tribunal merely to annoy 
her superiors and sisters in religion. 

The tribunal, instead of referring the plaintiff to her 
ecclesiastical superiors, intervenes, judges and condemns. I 
hold that this is an abuse of authority, such that no pretext 
can rob it of a name which out of regard for your feelings I 
refrain from uttering. 

Third. As regards the sending of priests speaking our 
two national languages to interned Belgians, I beg your 
Excellency to obtain for me a definite answer, a plain yes 
or no. 

During three years I have pleaded the exercise of liberty 
of conscience for these unfortunate men, condemned to 
confess to a priest who, even if he were a saint, brings 
back to their minds the memory of an enemy. The Holy 
See has deigned to take my appeal under his august protec- 
tion. As a matter of fact, the representatives of the Empire 
invariably meet our every effort with the answer that they 
are going to take steps, Schritte . . . unternehmen. Mean- 
while we are no better off than we were before. 

I beg the competent authority to make known to us once 
and for all whether or not it will allow us to send Belgian 
priests in communion with their bishops to help our coun- 
trymen. 

If it answers in the affirmative, it will thereby supply 
proofs of its respect for religious liberty and we shall 
thankfully hasten to the aid of our abandoned brethren. 

But in case of a negative reply, I would ask your Ex- 
cellency to no longer allow censored Flemish newspapers 
of the extremist section (flamingant) and certain dishonest 
individuals hiding behind their German protectors both at 
Gottingen and here full liberty to calumniate me by alleg- 
ing that if Flemish prisoners in Germany are deprived of 



406 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

Flemish confessors and preachers, it is only because Malines 
has an Archbishop who is an enemy of the language and 
indifferent to the religious needs of the Flemish people. 

I have reason to believe that a letter treating of con- 
fidential ecclesiastical affairs, addressed to the head chaplain 
of the German army in Berlin, has not reached him. Will 
your Excellency allow me to send him a copy in a sealed 
envelope and yourself insure its safe arrival at its destina- 
tion? I shall be exceedingly obliged if you will do me this 
favor. 

Accept, sir, the assurance of my sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

Political Department of the Government General of Bel- 
gium. Brussels, August I'jth, 19 17. 
To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of 
Malines. 

The Governor General, after reading your Eminence's 
letter of the 1st inst., told me that he did not intend to 
answer it himself. I have just come back to Brussels. On 
my return his Excellency drew my attention to the necessity 
of dealing in detail with certain points raised by your 
letter and this I hasten to do. 

First. As regards Sister Celine's pension, the Governor 
General has already declared to your Eminence that no 
German authority has compelled the superioress of the 
Poor Servants of Mary Immaculate to contribute 2,000 
marks toward Sister Celine's maintenance in the Ursuline 
convent. According to further information received, we 
have nothing to add to this declaration. 

Second. In this same letter of July 26th the Governor 
General already observed that the prosecution of the sis- 
ters of the Congregation of Mary Immaculate could in no 
wise be looked upon as an encroachment on the domain of 
religion by the civil power. The sisters were convicted for 
infringements of German decrees, viz., one sister for having 
retained and circulated noncensored publications and for in- 
sulting Germans, another for insulting Germans, and a third 



BELGIAN PRIESTS FOR PRISONERS 407 

for being in possession of and circulating noncensored pub- 
lications, for insulting Germans and having no identity card. 

These are misdemeanors and well within the province 
of the civil tribunal and not of the ecclesiastical authorities. 
Offenses against the common law committed by ecclesiastics 
are everywhere judged by ordinary tribunals. 

Third. As regards the appointment of Belgian priests 
to internment camps in Germany, obviously we could only 
admit those priests who, in our judgment, could be trusted 
not to bring any anti-German influence to bear upon the 
prisoners. The choice of these priests could, therefore, not 
be left exclusively to Belgian bishops; it would have to be 
made in agreement with the competent German authorities. 
If no solution of this problem can be reached, the special 
care of the prisoners must be left exclusively in the hands 
of German priests. There is nothing extraordinary in this, 
for neither in France nor in England are religious services 
for German prisoners intrusted to priests sent from Ger- 
many. Besides, the spiritual interests of Belgians interned 
in Germany have not hitherto been neglected; they have 
always been attended to in a satisfactory manner. 

Fourth. Your Eminence believes that a letter ad- 
dressed by you to the head Catholic chaplain of the Prussian 
army, Doctor Joppen, of Berlin, has not arrived at its 
destination. It must be noted, however, that as a sequel 
to a letter from your Eminence, the head chaplain has sent 
the Governor General a detailed report on two Flemish 
priests. The presumption is that the said letter is the one 
your Eminence has in view and which therefore has been 
duly received. It is not possible for the Governor Gen- 
eral to transmit the sealed letters you forwarded to* him to 
their addresses. 

I offer to your Eminence the expression of my sincere 
esteem. 

(Signed) Lancken. 



CHAPTER XLV 

THE GOVERNOR GENERAL THREATENS TO SEIZE THE 
CHURCH BELLS 1 

A rumor had become current throughout occupied Bel- 
gium that the military authorities were about to seize 
church bells. Without waiting for the official publication of 
an order to this effect, his Eminence, in conjunction with 
their Lordships, the Bishops of Namur and of Liege, 
expressed his fears to the Governor General and protested 
beforehand against sacrilegious acts, such as would be com- 
mitted by seizing the bells. 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 

September yth, 191 7. 
To His Excellency Baron von Falkenhausen, Governor Gen- 
eral, Brussels. 

Sir — For some time past a rumor has gained currency 
among the people, giving rise to a very keen and painful 
impression on all sides. There is a question, they say, of 
removing the bells from the churches. 

Our first impulse was to pay no attention to this rumor, 
especially as it appeared to have little foundation in fact, 
in view of the solemn assurances we had from time to 
time received from the German authorities, that during 
the time of occupation the rights of the church would be 
respected. But certain events give us cause for anxiety, 
especially the seizure of bells in the war zone No. 1 in 
occupied France; the taking away of bells used for civil 
purposes in certain districts of Belgium, and lastly a bell 
which was used for worship has just been violently carried 
off from Magoster-lez-Laroche, without the local authori- 
ties being advised or warned that this would be done. This 

408 



THREAT TO SEIZE CHURCH BELLS 409 

last act, the result, no doubt, of a mistake, was at once re- 
ported to the military Governor General of Luxemburg by 
the diocesan authorities of Namur, as being formally con- 
trary to the decree of December 13th, 19 16, according to 
which objects belonging to churches and other buildings or 
places used for ecclesiastical purposes are exempt from 
seizure and delivery. 

These incidents, Excellency, do not shake our confidence, 
but they fill us with apprehension and will serve to justify 
our addressing you a collective letter today to demand pro- 
tection for the rights of the church and ecclesiastical prop- 
erty — a protection to which Article 46 of The Hague con- 
vention entitles us. 

We fear lest the prolongation of the war may some 
day threaten with danger the weighty interests of religion 
and Christian art, of which we are the natural guardians. 
We hope the German authorities will listen to our appeal. 
We conjure you to intercede with the higher command of 
the army, should the need ever arise. It is superfluous to re- 
peat to your Excellency that it is the duty of the Belgian 
hierarchy to keep the patrimony of the church intact and to 
oppose every act or attempt contrary thereto 1 . Catholic 
liturgy does not merely look upon bells as objects pertaining 
to worship ; it has included them in the category of sacred 
vessels. They are consecrated to divine worship through 
being anointed by the bishop and by the prayers of the 
Church. They must be retained for their exclusively re- 
ligious purposes and only used for sounding the praises of 
God and summoning the faithful to prayer. They cannot 
be alienated without the consent of the ecclesiastical authori- 
ties. Their removal, their being utilized for profane pur- 
poses, would be looked upon by our people as a sacrilege. 
Moreover, how painful would it be for the faithful to think 
that the metal from which the bells are cast and which is as 
a rule provided by their generosity, might be converted into 
guns or ammunition for the use of a hostile army and might 
be destined to carry death into the ranks of their own coun- 
trymen, their own children. 

We shall be happy to receive from your Excellency a 



4io CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

word to calm our fears and to enable us to pacify our sorely- 
tried people. 

Accept the assurance of our sincere esteem. 
(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 
(Signed) M. H. Rutten, 

Bishop of Namur. 
(Signed) Th. Louis Heylen, 

Bishop of Liege. 

The Governor General gave an evasive answer. 

Government General of Belgium, Brussels, 

September 29th, 1917. 
To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of 
Malines. 
In the letter you wrote me on the 10th inst., your 
Eminence, in conjunction with their Lordships, the Bishops 
of Namur and Liege, expresses fears lest the bells in Bel- 
gian churches be seized. The hierarchy contemplates' a 
case in which military necessities might lead to the execution 
of such measures. 

I am able to answer that so far there has been no 
reason for assuming any definite attitude as regards the 
question raised in this appeal. 

I offer to your Eminence the expression of my sincere 
esteem. 

(Signed) Von Falkenhausen, 

Lieutenant General. 

The Cardinal acknowledged the receipt of the Governor 
General's letter as follows : 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 

October \th, 19 17. 
To His Excellency Baron von Falkenhausen, Governor Gen- 
eral, Brussels. 
Sir — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of 
your Excellency's letter of the 29th inst., with reference 
to the preservation of bells consecrated to Catholic worship, 



THREAT TO SEIZE CHURCH BELLS 4" 

and I thank you in the names of my colleagues, the Bishops 
of Namur and Liege, and in my own, for having quieted 
our anxiety in this matter. 

Please accept our assurance of our sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

Events were soon to show that the fears of the Belgian 
people as to the seizure of their church bells were not ill- 
founded. Early in February, 191 8, Baron von Falken- 
Ihausen informed the Cardinal that he was ordering inven- 
tory to be made of all existing bronze bells and all zinc 
i organ pipes in Belgium. This was the prelude to the definite 
act of seizure. 

Government General of Belgium, Brussels, 

February 8 th, 19 18. 
To His Eminence Cardinal Mercidr, Archbishop of 
Malines. 
I have the honor to inform your Eminence that I shall 
at an early date issue an order providing for a general 
inventory of all bronze bells, etc., and all zinc organ pipes 
throughout Belgium. 

In view of my letter of September 24th, 19 17, I did 
not wish to fail giving you this information. 

I offer your Eminence the assurance of my sincere 
esteem. 

(Signed) Von Falkenhausen, 

Lieutenant General. 

In the face of this decision the Cardinal, considering all 
negotiations with the Governor General fruitless, wrote 
directly to the Chancellor of the empire, Count von Hert- 
ling, in these terms : 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 

February i^th, 1918. 
Mr. Chancellor — The Governor General of Brussels, 
Baron von Falkenhausen, has informed me in a letter dated 



4 i2 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

February 8th that he will very shortly proceed to seize the 
bells and organ pipes in our churches. 

In September, 19 17, it was already being noised abroad 
that our bells were in danger. We tried then to pacify the 
minds of our flock by inviting an assurance from the Gov- 
ernor General that in accordance with the oft-repeated 
promises of his predecessors he would uphold the rights of 
the church in Belgium, the Bishops of Namur and Liege 
joining their signatures to mine. The answer of the Gov- 
ernor General, dated September 29th, was evasive. That of 
February 8th now announces that we must no longer cher-. 
ish any illusions under this head, and that failing the august 
protection of his Imperial Majesty the sacrilege will be 
perpetrated in the course of a few days. 

Our only remaining hope, Excellency, is in your gra- 
cious intervention. 

Article 46, of The Hague convention, imposes upon 
the occupying power the duty of respecting both the exer- 
cise of public worship and private property, whether held 
individually or collectively. Again Article 53 limits all 
requisitions in kind to the needs of the army of occupation. 

It is superfluous to add that bells and organ pipes are 
not used to meet the needs of the army of occupation. 
They come under the head of private property and are 
used in the exercise of Catholic worship. 

In the name of international law, subscribed to by the 
highest authorities of the German Empire and the King- 
dom of Prussia, I beg your Excellency to prevent the pub- 
lication of the order with which Belgium is threatened. Be- 
ing a Catholic, like ourselves, your Excellency cannot be 
unaware that the forcible seizure of a church bell is a sac- 
rilege. A bell is a consecrated object, which means that it 
is irrevocably dedicated to the service of God. The bishop 
has not merely blessed it, he has anointed it with holy oil 
and sacred chrism in order that, according to the language 
of the liturgy, it may be sanctified by the Holy Ghost ("sanc- 
tificetur a spiritu sancto") and the faithful recognize in its 
call the voice of the Church summoning her children to has- 
ten to her bosom ("Vasculum ad invitandos Alios sanctae 



THREAT TO SEIZE CHURCH BELLS 413 

ecclesiae praeparatum, ut festina antes ad piae matris ec- 
clesiae gremium cantent in ecclesia sanctorum canticum 
novum"). 

The voice of the bell summoning you to lead the life of a 
Christian and which will summon you again to the tribunal 
of God, your Excellency recognizes, reveres and regards 
with affection. Now that you are Chancellor of the Empire, 
its appeal still reaches your heart just as it did when you 
were yet a simple member of the faithful. The realities of 
the spiritual life and ecclesiastical law are unchanged by hu- 
man greatness. You can neither order nor authorize the 
ordering of the profanation of bells consecrated to Catholic 
worship without at the same time participating in a sacrilege. 

Let me add, Excellency, that this encroachment on the 
rights of the Church announced by the Governor General 
of Brussels would come as a great shock to a people who 
have never wished Germany anything but good — a people 
Germany has bound herself by oath to take under her pro- 
tection and who should by now be spared fresh sorrows. 

Among the cherished hopes of your compatriots is as- 
suredly that of one day renewing friendly relations with our 
country. The remembrance of a violation of religious rights 
so very dear to each diocese, parish and every Christian 
family in our country, would linger in the minds of our 
people for several generations, fostering hatred instead of 
love. Will not your Excellency therefore come to the con- 
clusion that the economic future of Germany is inevitably 
bound up with the vindication of international law and the 
rights of conscience? 

Our venerable colleagues in the German and Austrian 
episcopate do not deny the validity of these principles, but 
they have had to resign themselves to the removal of bells 
from their churches with feelings of despair in their souls. 
If perchance they were so blinded by patriotism as to tol- 
erate an evil they were powerless to prevent, our patriot- 
ism on the contrary only gives additional force to the law 
of resistance. We should, indeed, be traitors to our church 
and our country were we to be guilty of the cowardice of 
supplying the enemy with material for engines of destruc- 



4i4 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

tion destined only to bring death into the ranks of the heroes 
who are sacrificing their lives for us. 

I make this my appeal to the man whose noble career 
has been devoted to the service of right, to a Christian who 
has always considered it an honor to champion the rights 
of the Church and of the consciences of Catholics. 

In conclusion I beg the Chancellor of the Empire to re- 
ceive the expression of my sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

The Holy See on its own account also made pressing 
appeals to the Imperial Government to prevent the impend- 
ing confiscation. 

It was owing to these various representations that the 
threat of the Governor General remained a dead letter and 
the bells in the Belgian churches were saved. 



CHAPTER XLVI 

THE CARDINAL PROVES THAT THE SCARCITY OF AGRICUL- 
TURAL PRODUCTS IN OCCUPIED BELGIUM IS DUE SOLELY 

TO THE ACTION OF THE GERMAN "CENTRALS" HE 

DENOUNCES CERTAIN SERIOUS OUTRAGES COMMITTED 
BY GERMAN SOLDIERS IN CHURCHES AND COMPLAINS 
OF THE SUPPORT GIVEN BY THE GERMAN AUTHORI- 
TIES TO A CAMPAIGN DIRECTED AGAINST HIMSELF BY 
THE "ACTIVISTS" 

Early in the winter of 19 17-19 1 8, though the output 
of the Belgian coal mines had not sensibly lessened, coal was 
almost unobtainable. The occupying power limited more 
and more the coal ration of the people. 

Acting on the instructions of the Governor General, 
Baron von der Lancken informed the Cardinal that it was 
needful to practice the greatest economy in the consumption 
of coal. This letter was a reproduction, more or less, of one 
he had already written on the same subject in February, 

I 9 I ?\ 

His Eminence replied directly to the Governor General, 

proving by figures that if the scarcity of coal were great the 
blame must be solely attributed to the German requisitions. 
In general the scarcity and consequently the prevailing high 
prices of agricultural products were due to the sinister ac- 
tion of the "Centrals." These organizations, created by 
the occupying power ostensibly to regulate the equable dis- 
tribution of produce among the inhabitants, had for their 
main purpose the filching of the greater part of it for the 
benefit of Germany. 

415 



416 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

Archbishop' s House, Malines, 

November i\th> 19 17. 
To His Excellency Baron von Falkenhausen, Governor Gen- 
eral, Brussels. 

The letter with which your Excellency has favored me 
through the obliging medium of Baron von der Lancken 
informs me that the quantity of coal allotted by your gov- 
ernment for distribution among the Belgian people consist- 
ently grows less and less, so that not only private houses 
but also schools and churches will have to suffer from the 
general scarcity. I do not complain of the extension of the 
same treatment to all alike, but I fail to understand how 
this regime of famine comes to be imposed upon us. Bel- 
gium is a rich country, and yet our people are impoverished 
to the point of being hungry and cold. 

Normally, agriculture, industry and the working of the 
mines are carried on with a marvelous intensity and behold, 
after three years of occupation the factories are closed down 
and we are told that the available agricultural products will 
not suffice for our most pressing needs. 

Official statistics which I have by me prove that the 
coal-producing industry yielded in 19 10 twenty-four million 
tons and in each of the four following years twenty-three 
million tons. If we deduct from these figures the quantity 
consumed in the collieries, this leaves an annual average of 
twenty-one million tons available for sale and distribution. 
Taking the Belgian population at a rough estimate of six 
million, each inhabitant ought to be allotted more than three 
tons, i. e., 3,000 kils. of coal per annum. 

I am not unaware that at the present time coal miners 
are less numerous and their work less productive, but who 
is to be held responsible for the reduction of hands and 
energy? 

Agricultural products are almost unobtainable and are 
sold at exorbitant prices. One simple instance of this will 
suffice: Potatoes have been sold at from 2f 50 to ^{ a kilo 
(roughly from 48c. to 58c. per pound). Our land yields 
sufficient quantity to supply each inhabitant with about one 
and one-third pounds per day, even after deducting the 



SCARCITY OF PRODUCTS 417 

amount necessary for feeding cattle and for use in certain 
industries, but the Brussels people actually received from 
September, 19 16, to September, 19 17, approximately two 
ounces of potatoes per head per day! 

Therefore, in the name of our starving people, dis- 
mayed by the outlook for the winter, I beg your Excellency 
to call to mind the promises made by your predecessors and 
realize your own responsibilities in this matter. 

Hardly had he arrived in Brussels when the Governor 
General Baron von der Goltz proclaimed that Belgian citi- 
zens desirous of peaceably following their occupation had 
nothing to fear from the troops or the German authorities 
and invited our countrymen to resume their commercial ac- 
tivities, to reopen the factories and to gather in the harvest. 

Under date April 22d, of last year, the late Baron von 
Bissing made the following communication to the Belgian 
public: 

"With a view of insuring the victualing of the people I 
have determined henceforth to prohibit in the territory un- 
der my authority the exportation of all foodstuffs. All these 
products, provided they be Belgian, will therefore be re- 
served for the population of the territory dependent on my 
administration" ! 

Every time, either in the beginning or in the course of 
the occupation, the fulfilling of our pastoral duty has com- 
pelled us to draw a line of demarcation between our per- 
manent duty of loyalty to the legitimate government on the 
one hand and the acceptance of the temporary regulations 
issued by the occupier on the other, the representatives of 
your government have appealed for their own advantage 
to Article 43 of The Hague convention. This article, it is 
well to remember, is conceived in these terms: 

"Article 43. The authority of the legal power, having 
*de facto' passed into the hands of the occupier, the latter 
shall do everything in his power to re-establish and insure, 
as far as can be, public order and public life by respecting, 
unless absolutely prevented, the laws in force in the country." 

The reason why international law recognizes in the oc- 
cupier a power "de facto" is therefore quite definite, "to re- 



4 i 8 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

establish and insure, as far as can be, public order and pub- 
lic life." The limits of the exercise of it are defined, "To 
respect, unless absolutely prevented, the laws in force in 
the country." 

Whoever holds the power, therefore, will find in this 
Article 43 both the basis and the limit of his responsibilities. 
Moreover, Article 43 clearly defines the obligatory destina- 
tion of the resources of the country. The occupier may 
not seize or claim them except for "the wants of the army 
of occupation." 

These two articles give the key to the solution of the 
knotty problem of providing the country with foodstuffs 
and fuel. 

Our own painful experience shows that the German 
administration has erred in intrusting to the "Centrals" the 
exclusive control of the supplies of potatoes, coal, sugar, 
cereals, fats, etc. 

Means of subsistence and heating are not lacking, yet 
the people are badly fed and the means of heating very poor. 
Where does everything not intended for their consumption 
go? In the name of public order and public life, which your 
government pledged itself to maintain when it took the 
power in hand, in the name of a people suffering hunger and 
cold, we implore the General Government to resolutely 
abolish the "Centrals" whose procedure is so fatal to Bel- 
gian interests and to confide the control of supplies for our 
country either to permanent deputations agreeably to the 
Belgian laws of August 4th, 19 14, or to the national com- 
mittee under the supervision of ministers who will protect 
Belgian interests. 

This letter is addressed to the Governor General with 
feelings of deference and hope. No doubt what I ask him 
for is no favor, but when the interest of workers' families 
and small householders is at stake, it does not cost a pastor 
very dear to join to his lawful claims an earnest prayer. 
Besides, is not your Excellency bound to admit that in doing 
us justice you are falling in with the wishes of your own 
countrymen? If the latter, as we firmly believe, have not 
given up all hopes of one day renewing commercial rela- 



SCARCITY OF PRODUCTS 419 

tions with Belgium, is it not natural that they should ask you 
not to sow fresh seeds of discord and bitterness, but rather 
leave behind you some last remembrance which will speak 
of justice? 

Please accept the assurance of my sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

The Governor General, instead of answering the Car- 
dinal's arguments, found it easier to assert, just as he had 
done before, in the matter of the protest against the arrest 
of officials, that he declined to discuss with his Eminence 
questions which had no direct bearing on ecclesiastical af- 
fairs. 

The Cardinal justified himself by affirming that his duty 
made it imperative for him to take a practical interest in 
both the physical and moral sufferings of his flock. Since 
the Governor General wished to confine himself to strictly 
ecclesiastical matters in his relations with the Cardinal, the 
latter denounces some serious breaches of respect due to 
religion committed in sundry places by German troops. He 
also complained of the support given by the occupying 
power to the campaign of calumny leveled against him by 
the "activists." The latter publicly proclaimed that if Flem- 
ish prisoners in Germany had no priests at their disposal 
speaking their language, the blame must be laid on the Car- 
dinal's shoulders. As a matter of fact, the latter had, since 
December, 19 14, appealed to the German Government for 
permission to send priests speaking both the national lan- 
guages to internment camps in Germany. 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 

December nth, 19 17. 
To His Excellency Baron von Falkenhausen, Governor Gen- 
eral, Brussels. 
Your Excellency — In your esteemed letter dated Novem- 
ber 29th you express the view that the subject of my letter 
of 23rd ult. did not concern what you call ecclesiastical af- 
fairs and is therefore outside my province. 



420 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

The Governor General would find neither in Germany 
nor elsewhere any Catholic bishop who would consent to 
limit his sphere of action to the precincts of the church or 
to the purely spiritual wants of his flock. The physical 
and moral sufferings of our people are ours also, and any 
bishop failing to share in them would betray his sacred trust. 
Moreover, I am a Belgian citizen and I owe it to my coun- 
try to make fitting use of whatever influence I possess on 
her behalf. Should I have noised abroad my grievances? 
Or submitted them directly to the first authority in the 
Empire? But when I laid them before the Governor Gen- 
eral, was that not paying homage to the high position he 
holds midway between his Imperial Majesty and occupied 
Belgium? 

However that may be, your Excellency cannot dispute 
the religious character of the two following incidents, the 
first of which took place at Hainault within the war zone, 
while the second concerns myself personally. 

On November 14th last at Tournay, Mons, and in a 
number of important communes in Hainault, German sol- 
diers, either themselves or through the instrumentality of 
others, opened certain tabernacles where the Blessed Sac- 
rament is reserved in our churches and chapels, while in some 
places, I am told, they even dared to lay hands on the sacred 
ciborium inclosed in the tabernacle. These facts are 
vouched for by persons whom I believe to be sincere and 
well-informed. I earnestly beg your Excellency to investi- 
gate these matters and take the necessary steps to prevent 
a repetition of such sacrileges. 

To come to the second of my complaints. For some 
five months now the activist newspapers have been organ- 
izing a campaign of calumny and outrage against myself. 
Personally I treat it with contempt. But there is one thing 
I must set my face against, because by dint of repetition it 
might lead simple-minded folk to misconstrue the sentiments 
with which I am inspired in the carrying out of my pastoral 
duties. These newspapers make me answerable for the 
lack of bi-lingual Belgian confessors in both the military 
and civil internment camps and in those where the deported 



SCARCITY OF PRODUCTS 421 

are lodged. As a matter of fact, your officials know quite 
well that I have made repeated representations directly and 
indirectly, both to your predecessors and yourself, to put an 
end to this deplorable state of affairs, but in vain. 

The action of the slanderers is all the more cowardly 
I because they know that the connivance of your government 
insures impunity for them and deprives us of the means of 
defense. The most bare-faced among them, who signs him- 
self Dr. Aug. Borms, is a favorite of your administration 
and of the Politische Abteilung. The latest edition of his 
calumny is dated November 29th. Can you not realize that 
respect for truth and religion imposes duties upon you? 

Receive the expression of my sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

The Governor General was unwilling to answer the 
Cardinal's letter of November 24th on the pretext that he 
would not discuss with him anything except religious mat- 
ters. It was Baron von der Lancken who took upon him- 
self to plead the cause of the "Centrals" and to justify the 
manner in which foodstuffs and particularly agricultural 
products were being distributed by the occupying power. 

The cause was a bad one; consequently the pleading 
was weak. 

Political Department of the Government General, Brussels, 

December 1st, 19 17. 
To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of Malines. 

The Governor General has forwarded me your letter of 
November 24th for reply. 

I cannot refrain from refuting certain insinuations it 
contains and calling your Eminence's attention to some 
points which escaped your notice when ventilating your 
grievances and making known your wishes. 

Your Eminence regrets that agricultural produce is 
hardly obtainable and only at exorbitant prices. On this 
occasion you are right in recalling the promises made by the 
late Baron von Bissing to the representatives of neutral 



422 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

countries and the Belgian people, to forbid the exportation 
of foodstuffs, with certain exceptions provided for in the 
contracts. It could not have escaped your notice that this 
promise made by the Governor General limiting his right 
to commandeer these goods for the needs of the army of 
occupation was a purely voluntary act on his part in favor 
of the Belgians, for you must remember that this right of 
seizure is in conformity with Article 52 of The Hague con- 
vention, as you yourself acknowledge. 

This engagement, to which he consented of his own 
free will, the Governor General has always observed in its 
entirety. This, I am glad to see, your Eminence does not 
call into question in your letter. You ask where the food- 
stuffs destined for the Belgian people ultimately go. I 
would remind you that the Governor General in numerous 
notices to the people has shown that great quantities of food- 
stuffs were acquired by the wealthy to the detriment of the 
bulk of the people. It is the rich who are unpatriotic enough 
to pay middlemen exorbitant prices, such as are mentioned 
in your Eminence's letter. Small farmers and holders of 
monopolies enrich themselves by fraudulently disposing of 
foodstuffs which the Governor General in his solicitude en- 
deavors to put on the market at reasonable prices for sale 
to the less fortunate and needy classes. Numerous orders 
and decrees of all kinds, and quite lately the new order 
in virtue of which more severe penalties than ever are to be 
inflicted on profiteers, are so many proofs of the fight which 
the "Centrals" and other organizations erected by the Gov- 
ernor General are carrying on against a fraction of the 
population for the benefit of the masses. Your Eminence 
yourself, in your pastoral letter of last spring, showed that 
the wretched state of things now obtained must be laid at 
the door of the profiteers. You made a solemn appeal to 
the consciences of peasants who have proved to be unpa- 
triotic. At the time of these declarations people complained 
to the German authorities that the clergy had not exercised 
its weighty influence to remedy the sad plight in which the 
Belgian people finds itself. In spite of all this you throw all 
the responsibility on the "Centrals" and ignore the untiring 



SCARCITY OF PRODUCTS 423 

efforts of the Governor General and his officials to insure 
the just and equitable distribution of all agricultural prod- 
uce. Of course they do not always succeed in overcoming 
the resistance made by certain sections of the population 
at the instigation of vested interests. The same phenomena 
are to be found in all countries involved in the war. No- 
where have the organizations created to meet new situa- 
tions succeeded in finding definite solutions to the grave 
problems arising out of the war in every country nor for 
the changes in economic conditions which are its inevitable 
consequence. 

As regards the difficulties in the coal supply, the question 
is primarily one of transport. Belgium, so far as this goes, 
finds herself in precisely the same plight as other countries. 

Your Eminence reminds me that the occupier has the 
right to maintain public order and life. The numerous 
orders of the Governor General, whose purpose it is to 
insure the feeding of the Belgian people, and the unceasing 
efforts of the officials placed under him, the penalties ever 
increasing in severity against profiteering in foodstuffs and 
against all who disobey the Governor General's orders, are 
an eloquent proof of the slender foundation on which your 
accusations rest. If results do not always justify our expec- 
tations, the chief blame must be sought for — I am compelled 
to admit — in the want of co-operation on the part of the 
competent Belgian authorities and in the absence of public 
spirit among the Belgian people. 

Nevertheless these authorities and the population of 
Belgium are the principal objects of the Governor General's 
benevolent intentions. 

I offer to your Eminence the expression of my sincere 
esteem. 

(Signed) Lancken. 

The Cardinal in a letter addressed to Baron von der 
Lancken and in which he complains of several vexatious 
measures taken by the occupying power again accuses the 
"Centrals" of being the primary cause of the acute distress 
in which the population was plunged. 



4 2 4 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 

December nth, 19 17. 
To Baron von der Lancken, Chief of the Political Depart- 
ment of the Government General, Brussels. 

Dear Baron — I am glad to accept your kind offer to 
transmit a sealed letter to the head Catholic chaplain, Mgr. 
Joppen.* 

It is true, then, that in spite of all the promises made to 
His Holiness and to us, the Dean Jules Herman will not 
recover his liberty. The case is one of the numerous appli- 
cations of a process inadmissible in justice. When the tri- 
bunal sentences a prisoner to a definite penalty and the pen- 
alty is paid, the prisoner has a right to his liberty. But 
now, without a new trial, by an arbitrary decision he is kept 
in exile. Among the numerous victims of this procedure I 
may mention the mayor of Malines, M. Charles Dessain; 
the dean of Orp-le-grand, M. Herman, and my secretary, 
Canon Loncin. 

I know that people are trying to be disagreeable to me, 
but Ts this a reason for condoning an injustice? 

The same ungracious intention toward myself again 
manifests itself in the letter written in the name of the 
Government General to his Excellency the Nuncio, regard- 
ing the closing of the Ursuline Convent at Malines. This 
letter speaks of the "spirit of rebellion" against the laws 
of the country, of "breaches, which being committed at 
Malines itself . . ." 

This is erroneously identifying with a "rebellion" a pas- 
sive resistance dictated by motives of conscience, and with 
the "laws of the country" measures fabricated for no other 
purpose than to overturn them. 

Furthermore, supposing the training colleges had broken 
the laws of the country, it does not follow that it was per- 
missible to shut the Catholic secondary school and the Catho- 
lic primary school, which, though under the same roof as 
the training college, had nothing in common with it. The 

* In answering a letter of the Cardinal wherein he interceded on behalf 
of a political prisoner, Baron von der Lancken offered to forward a sealed 
letter to Monsignor Joppen and announced that Abbe Herman had not 
obtained leave to return to Belgium. 



SCARCITY OF PRODUCTS 425 

closing of these two schools is a severe blow to the freedom 
of education. I still hope that the line of action taken 
against these innocent nuns will not be continued with.* 

As regards the "Centrals," it is not possible for you not 
to feel the weakness of your pleading. 

No doubt I have reminded small farmers of the obliga- 
tions, charity and common fairness imposed upon them be- 
cause I hold that we must tell the truth even to our friends, 
but you will notice that I immediately subjoined: "I am 
fully aware that the primary responsibility for the crisis does 
not rest with the small farmers." In a document intended 
for public reading in the churches, I could not be more pre- 
cise than this, but you are too circumspect not to see that I 
did not even mention the word "Central." Do not place 
any additional burden on the shoulders of the small farmers. 
You have already weighed down and drained them by the 
fines you have inflicted. "The Central" is but an octopus 
whose spreading tentacles unceasingly absorb the vital re- 
sources of the country. Leave the permanent deputations 
and the national committee to preside over the distribution 
of food and coal and then the people will be nourished and 
warmed and you will no longer incur the reproach of having 
favored Germany and engaged in commerce with the neu- 
tral countries to our detriment. 

Please receive the assurance of our sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

Baron von der Lancken, in replying to the foregoing let- 
ter, endeavors, in accordance with the Governor General's 
instructions, to refute the accusations brought against the 
occupying power by the Cardinal in his letter of December 
10th to Baron von Falkenhausen. 

*The authorities of the free (Catholic) training college, under _ the 
direction of the Ursulines, in their unwillingness to recognize the adminis- 
trative separation imposed by the occupying power, refused, as the ma- 
jority of establishments had done, to present their pupils before an examin- 
ation board on which members from tre new offices sat. On account of this 
refusal, the government ordered the closure, not only of the training college, 
but also of the free secondary school and the primary school, which were 
carried on in the same buildings as the training college. 



426 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

Political Department of the Government General, 

Brussels, December iqth, 19 17. 
To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of Malines. 

The Governor General has handed me your Eminence's 
esteemed letter dated the 10th inst. and has asked me to 
reply to it. His Excellency declares that he is unable to 
recognize the right by which, as a Belgian citizen, your Emi- 
nence claims to use the influence you derive from the posi- 
tion you occupy in the Church. For your Eminence, in- 
vested, as you are, with very high ecclesiastical authority, 
holds a privileged position and enjoys a protection of which 
the Governor General and his predecessors out of regard 
for the Holy See have always held count. From the very 
beginning of the occupation your Eminence has made use 
of the privileges attached to your ecclesiastical position to 
foment a political agitation which in the case of a simple 
citizen would bring upon him prosecution by the courts. It 
is for this reason that the Governor General expressly ad- 
heres to his own point of view, viz., not to enter into cor- 
respondence with your Eminence except in questions of a 
purely religious nature. In his quality of representative of 
His Majesty the Emperor, the Governor General exacts the 
full recognition of his authority in the territory under occu- 
pation. 

I now come to the particular points put forward by your 
Eminence. In the first place, I should like to remark that 
in regard to the perquisitions made in churches in the 
provinces of Hainault, an explanation has already been given 
by the inspector of military areas to his Lordship the Bishop 
of Tournay, and the affair can therefore be considered at 
an end. Nevertheless, I should like to point out that these 
perquisitions have shown the misuse to which churches have 
been put by concealing objects in every way profane in places 
reserved for divine worship only. 

In regard to the complaints made by your Eminence 
against Doctor Borms, the Governor General thinks that 
the latter had good reasons for offering resistance to your 
Eminence when, in using your ecclesiastical influence, you 



SCARCITY OF PRODUCTS 427 

initiate a conflict with the legitimate aspirations of the Flem- 
ish people. 

To sanction the sending of Belgian priests into prison 
:amps in Germany — a question which for the second time 
pour Eminence raised — rests exclusively with the military 
authorities in Germany, but I feel bound to remark that 
the same authorities, in refusing the candidates recom- 
mended by your Eminence, yield to a misgiving, which from 
their point of view is fully justified, for the political atti- 
tude which you have assumed from the very beginning of 
the war has not been such as to inspire them with sufficient 
confidence in your choice. 

In your letter of December nth you again bring for- 
ward your objections to the "Centrales." Referring to the 
statements I have already made, I should like to call your 
attention once more to this fact, that the difficulties of which 
you complain in regard to supplying the people in Belgium 
with food are to be found in every belligerent country, even 
in those where no organization of the kind exists. It ap- 
pears to me that it is not fair to make the Belgian "Cen- 
trales" responsible for all the difficulties. 

So far as the Cure Jules Herman is concerned, new 
arrangements have been made with which I recently made 
your Eminence acquainted. With regard to the closing of 
the schools at Malines, conducted by the Ursulines, I can 
only state to your Eminence that I am not competent to deal 
with the matter, but all the same I will procure fuller infor- 
mation and if needful will be ready to revert to this affair 
later on, in case it is ever reopened. 

I present to your Eminence the expression of my sincere 
esteem. 

(Signed) Lancken. 



CHAPTER XLVII 

THE CARDINAL REQUESTS BARON VON DER LANCKEN NOT 

TO CONVERT THE CHURCH OF ST. ROCH, AT 

HAL, INTO A HOSPITAL 

Archbishop' s House, Malines, 

March 29th, 19 18. 
To Baron von der Lancken, Chief of the Political Depart- 
ment, Government General, Brussels. 

Dear Baron — I must draw your kind attention to a 
rather delicate situation that has arisen at Hal, which, by 
an effort of good-will, could be settled without any un- 
pleasantness. 

The local authorities wish to convert a parish church, 
that of St. Roch, to be precise, into a hospital. To do so 
would entail the disorganization of divine worship in a par- 
ish of more than 3,000 souls, at a moment when the services 
are exceptionally numerous. The dean of Hal informs me 
that there are a certain number of unconsecrated buildings 
where the wounded could easily be lodged. 

I hope you will be good enough to use your good offices 
for the furtherance of religious liberty, and in so doing 
you will earn my gratitude. I may add also that, according 
to information received, your intervention is urgently needed. 

Please receive the expression of my sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

The Cardinal's request met with a favorable reception. 
The church remained available for religious purposes. 



428 



CHAPTER XLVIII 

THE RELIGIOUS INTERESTS OF PRISONERS DETAINED IN THE 
CITADEL OF DIEST 

Early in March, 191 8, the military authorities brought 
back a large number of civilian prisoners from Germany, 
principally from the camp at Holtzminden, and interned 
them in Diest in a disused citadel. The Cardinal, hearing 
that the spiritual interests of these prisoners were neglected, 
requested the Governor General, using Baron von der 
Lancken as an intermediary, to authorize the parochial 
clergy of Diest to attend to their wants. 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 

March 29th, 191 8. 
To Baron von der Lancken, Chief of the Political Depart- 
ment of the Government General, Brussels. 
Dear Baron — At the present moment there are about 
400 civilians, transferred from Germany, lodged in a citadel 
situated in the small town of Diest, and rumor has it that 
their number will shortly be considerably increased. Some 
of them are prisoners, while others — and these are in the 
majority — have already expiated their offense, but, I am 
told, are being detained as "undesirable" under police sur- 
veillance. None of these men ever comes into contact 
with the priests. At the most they receive but rare and 
flying visits from the German chaplain. I earnestly request 
his Excellency the Governor General to kindly authorize the 
local clergy to provide regular religious services for those 
who are interned. 

I trust you will use your influence to procure this author- 
ity. At the same time that I thank you in anticipation, I 
ask you to accept the assurance of my sincere esteem. 
(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 
429 



43Q CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

The Governor General refused to grant the Cardinal's 
request, but Baron von der Lancken, in replying to the above 
letter, guaranteed that the spiritual welfare of the prison- 
ers at Diest, which had hitherto not been overlooked, would 
be even better attended to in the future. 

The Cardinal acknowledged the receipt of the letter of 
Baron von der Lancken and, while taking note of the assur- 
ance given by the Governor General, expressed his regret 
that his request had not been granted. 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 

April 2nd, 191 8. 
To Baron von der Lancken, Chief of the Political Depart- 
ment of the Government General, Brussels. 
Dear Baron — I duly received yours of April 17th, 191 8, 
in which you very kindly inform me as to the care of the 
religious interests of those interned in the citadel of Diest. 
Though I very much regret that Belgian priests are de- 
nied access to their compatriots, especially to hear their con- 
fessions, I am grateful for the guarantees given in your es- 
teemed letter. In thanking you I would ask you to receive 
the assurance of my sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 



CHAPTER XLIX 

THE COMMANDEERING OF MATTRESSES IN THE HOMES FOR 

THE AGED OF THE LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR 

DIVINE SERVICE IN THE PRISON ATTACHED TO 
THE KOMMANDANTUR AT BRUSSELS 

At the time when woolen goods were commandeered, 
the Cardinal was informed that aged persons lodged in the 
Homes of the Little Sisters of the Poor were threatened 
with the loss of their mattresses. He therefore requested 
Baron von der Lancken to intercede with the Governor Gen- 
eral in favor of the unfortunate old people. 

He also asked him to arrange to have mass celebrated 
in the Kommandantur prison at an earlier hour, so as not 
to prolong until a late hour in the morning the fast of the 
communicants. 

After an inquiry which lasted three weeks the Governor 
General decided that 400 old men, out of 450 inmates of 
the Rue Haute at Brussels, should be robbed of their mat- 
tresses. As regards the hour of divine worship at the Kom- 
mandantur no change could be made, Baron von der 
Lancken informed the Cardinal. 

The Cardinal in an energetic protest showed how outra- 
geous were the decisions of the Governor General. 

Archbishop' s House, Maiines, 

June 27th, 19 1 8. 
To Baron von der Lancken, Chief of the Political Depart- 
ment of the Government General, Brussels. 
Dear Baron — Your letter dated June 12th brings me 
a very disappointing answer to the two petitions made by 
me in the firm hope that this time, at all events, I should 
meet with no refusal; the refusal is, alas! unconditional. 

43i 



432 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

Thus out of the 450 mattresses of these poor and infirm old 
men in the Home of the Rue Haute, his Excellency the Gov- 
ernor General has ordered 400 to be commandeered, and 
you tell me in his name that fifty mattresses for fifty of the 
more serious cases must suffice. 

I am amazed at such language and must confess that 
discussion is quite beyond me. For months your agents have 
invaded, sometimes in one district, sometimes in another, the 
homes, hospitals, orphanages, and made the aged, the sick, 
the dying and orphan children sleep on straw, or on some 
indefinable substitute to which in any case those interested 
prefer straw. These facts go so far beyond the limits of 
what we Belgians would have believed possible that we look 
on them with amazement, scarcely believing the evidence of 
our own eyes. 

The odiousness of these repeated requisitions takes our 
breath away. 

But when the heartrending appeal of the Little Sisters 
of the Poor, in favor of the aged under their care, in Rue 
Haute at Brussels, came to my ears, I was under the impres- 
sion, quite wrongly as I see now, that the distress of these 
saintly women and the fate that awaits their charges would 
evoke feelings of sympathy, but, alas, for the sad searing 
of conscience brought about by militarism ! 

You imagine also that it is possible for prisoners, weak- 
ened by the hardships they have undergone and the mental 
strain resulting from several months of confinement, to< re- 
main fasting until 9 a. m. or even later, when they go to 
communion on Sundays. The question naturally arises as to 
how the concession I have applied for can possibly be preju- 
dicial to the discipline of the Kommandantur prison, espe- 
cially as there are generally some priests among the pris- 
oners who would only be too glad to say mass for them at 
an earlier hour- — and yet you refuse to grant it ! 

Once more I am silent. You cut me short. 

Furthermore you state, incidentally, that the spiritual 
needs of the prisoners are not very great. Now many 
of them on their release have told me that they suffered 



COMMANDEERING FROM AGED POOR 433 

greatly from a lack of the consolations of our holy religion. 

But all are not heroes. 

To overcome the repugnance certain patriotic souls nat- 
urally feel toward making their confession to a priest who 
is for them a constant reminder of an enemy power, to re- 
main fasting until a late hour in the morning, when their 
whole organism is exhausted, both call for more than aver- 
age virtue, and this is precisely the reason why I have fori 
four whole years implored every successive and competent 
German authority to grant military and civilian prisoners 
adequate facilities for approaching the sacraments, both 
here and in Germany. But in spite of the loudest public 
professions of regard for the spiritual welfare of Catholic 
prisoners, I have met with an obstinate refusal right up to 
this day. 

Please accept the assurance of my sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 



CHAPTER L 

THE BELGIAN BISHOPS FORMALLY PROTEST AGAINST THE 

IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT'S PROJECT TO UTILIZE CERTAIN 

CATHOLIC CHURCHES FOR PROTESTANT WORSHIP 

Archbishop' 's House, Malines, 

July 8th, 19 1 8. 
To Baron von Falkenhausen, Governor General, Brussels. 

Excellency — We have learned that the Imperial Gov- 
ernment in Belgium has conceived the project of using cer- 
tain of our Catholic churches for Protestant worship. 

Filled with consternation at the announcement of this 
danger, we deem it our episcopal duty to lose no time in 
doing our utmost to oppose unanimously the measure with 
which we are threatened and to declare that it is an en- 
croachment on the sacred rights of the Church and wound- 
ing to the susceptibilities of our flock. 

In virtue of their solemn consecration or blessing our 
churches are dedicated exclusively and forever to Catholic 
worship. To hand them over arbitrarily for another pur- 
pose is in the eyes of the Church tantamount to an odious, 
if not actually a sacrilegious, desecration, and so true is this 
that in certain cases provided for by canon law, a church 
thus desecrated has to be reconciled by expiatory rites be- 
fore it can be restored to Catholic worship. 

These joint churches have been and are still proscribed 
in numerous decrees emanating from the Roman congrega- 
tions and condemned by theologians. So great is the num- 
ber and such the harmony existing between these various 
decisions, that they constitute an acquired right in law. In 
countries where these joint Catholic and Protestant churches 
are in vogue the practice is merely tolerated by Rome, and 
the Holy See has explicitly declared that it cannot be intro- 

. 434 



USE OF CATHOLIC CHURCHES 435 

duced elsewhere. The teaching of the Catholic faculties 
in the German universities is identical with what we have 
just laid down. Article 14 of the Belgian constitution also 
guarantees liberty of worship in public as well as privately. 
Is there any one bold enough to maintain that the measure 
they contemplate inflicting upon us is in no way prejudicial 
to Catholic worship ? 

The Hague conference expressly laid down in Article 
46 : "Religious convictions and the exercise of public wor- 
ship must be respected." 

This parading of a form of worship antagonistic to their 
own in their very sanctuaries would inflict a deep wound on 
the feelings of our faithful people, and it is precisely on the 
ground of scandal that the prohibition of the Roman con- 
gregations is based. 

The Belgian people in general, whether in town or in 
the country, are staunch in their allegiance to the historical 
traditions of the Roman Church. The sight of unbelievers 
and Catholics worshiping in the same church would be in- 
flicting an outrage upon sorely wounded consciences and a 
painful scandal to pious persons, in whose judgment this 
promiscuity will ever remain an uncalled for and odious 
desecration. Let us add that the projected scheme would 
only accentuate the discontent, hidden yet keenly felt, caused 
by the physical and moral sufferings the Belgian nation has 
gone through during four years and which weigh more and 
more heavily upon them as the days go by. 

The General Government cannot even allege as a pre- 
text the absence of secular buildings where the Evangelical 
services can be carried out with due decorum. We under- 
take to point out, in all the districts where the occupying 
power calls for one, a hall where religious service can be 
held without objection. 

Whatever happens, we will not have recourse to resist- 
ance by force; our dignity forbids us; but we protest and 
we continue to protest against the violations of canon law, 
of Belgian constitutional law and of international law. We 
can never of our own free will connive at the regime of joint 
churches. If it be established, it will be so in spite of us. 



436 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

May it please God to enlighten the Imperial Govern- 
ment on the bearing and disastrous consequences of the pol- 
icy it contemplates adopting and make it refrain from pro- 
ceeding further with it, thus sparing the Belgian people, the 
clergy and the faithful this fresh calamity. 

We beg your Excellency to accept the expression of our 
sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines, 
(Signed) T. L. Heylen, 

Bishop of Namur, 
(Signed) M. H. Rutten, 

Bishop of Liege. 

P. S. — We are unable to submit the text of this docu- 
ment to his Lordship the Bishop of Tournay, but we are 
in a position to vouch for his sharing our views and his asso- 
ciating himself with us in our protest. 



CHAPTER LI 

RELEASE OF POLITICAL PRISONERS AND OF THE DEPORTED 

Under the ever-growing pressure of the allied troops 
the German army was in full retreat. The victorious Flan- 
ders offensive, launched on September 28th, had already 
freed a considerable part of occupied Belgium. The Ger- 
man General Government of Belgium knew that its days 
were numbered. On Thursday, October 17th, at 3 p. m. 
Baron von der Lancken repaired to the Archbishop's house 
and in the name of the Governor General and the Berlin 
Government handed the Cardinal the following declaration, 
translated into French : 

"You are in our estimation the incarnation of occupied 
Belgium, of which you are the venerated and trusted pastor. 
For this reason it is to you the Governor General and my 
government also have commissioned me to come and to an- 
nounce that when we evacuate your soil we wish to hand 
over to you unasked and of our own free will the political 
prisoners serving their time either in Belgium or in Ger- 
many, as well as those who have been deported. They will 
be free to return to their homes; the first batch will start on 
Monday, 21st inst. As this news is sure to rejoice your 
heart, I am happy to impart it to you ; the more so as I have 
not been able to live for four years in the midst of the Bel- 
gians without esteeming them and appreciating their patriot- 
ism at its true value." 

The next day the Cardinal sent Baron von der Lancken 
the following letter: 

437 



4a8 CARDINAL MERCIER'S OWN STORY 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 

October iSth, 191 8. 
To Baron von der Lancken, Chief of the Political Depart- 
ment of the Government General, Brussels. 

Dear Baron — The announcement you were kind enough 
to make yesterday, in the name of the Governor General 
and the German Government, as to the early release of our 
political prisoners and our deported, has greatly rejoiced 
me and I return you my heartfelt thanks. 

Next Sunday your message will be given to the public 
in all the parishes of the diocese. It will produce a soothing 
impression and will quicken hopes. When in the course of 
the week families see the absent ones returning to their 
homes they will feel rising in them generous desires of rec- 
onciliation and forgiveness. 

I have the honor to join to my letter a copy of the com- 
munication to be made to my flock. 

I feel sure I am voicing the wishes of our people, when, 
in their name as well as in my own, I beg you to tell the au- 
thorities, whose representative you are among us, how 
greatly we appreciate the benevolent action of which your 
government's initiative is a proof and with what earnestness 
we long for the realization of the hopes your promise has 
raised in our hearts. 

Accept, Baron, the assurance of my sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

With this letter was inclosed the Cardinal's communica- 
tion to his flock, which was read in all the churches on Sun- 
day, October 20th. 

Malines, October 17th, 1918. 
To the Clergy and Faithful of the Diocese of Malines. 

Dear Beloved Brethren — Our hearts soar in hope. 

Peace is not yet signed. So suddenly do events follow 
one another, so disconcertingly at times, that no one would 
venture to say peace was already won. 

Its day, however, has already dawned. 

We already see the harbinger of it. 



RELEASE POLITICAL PRISONERS 439 

Today, Thursday, October 17th, the chief of the politi- 
cal department came in the name of the Governor General 
of Brussels and of the Berlin Government. He brought 
word to me that Belgian political prisoners, interned either 
in Belgium or in Germany, and the Belgians deported into 
Germany will be released as soon as Belgium is evacuated. 
The release of those detained in the prisons of occupied 
Belgium, outside the- military areas, will begin from Mon- 
day, 2 1 st inst. 

I append herewith the written declaration which the 
German Government's delegate handed to me. Influenced 
by a personal feeling, which you will understand, I have 
hesitated to give you the full text thereof. But on reflection, 
I have decided to do so. 

(Here follows the text of the declaration above.) 

You see then, dearly beloved brethren, that God is still 
with us. Your earnest appeals to the Sacred Heart of Jesus 
and to Our Lady of the Rosary, Mary our Mediatrix, have 
been heard. Persevere of one mind in your prayers. 

Remain calm and dignified. 

The hour of definite deliverance and of peace with vic- 
tory is at hand. 

Courage and confidence! 

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I put my trust in Thee. 

Sacred Heart of Jesus, protect Belgium. 

Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, Mary our Mediatrix, 
pray for us. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 



CHAPTER LII 

PROTEST OF THE CARDINAL AGAINST THE BEHAVIOR OF 
GERMAN TROOPS DURING THEIR RETREAT 

Archbishop' s House, Malines, 

October iSth, 191 8. 
To Baron von der Lancken, Chief of the Political Depart- 
ment of the Government General, Brussels. 
Dear Baron — I am credibly informed that about Octo- 
ber 14th and 15th more than 500 young men of St. Nicholas 
were led by force to the front, in the direction of Ypres. 
If, as I have reason to believe, this proves correct, you must 
admit that it is to be deplored and is, more than ever, un» 
fortunate. 

May we hope that the Vilvorde and Malines prisons 
will be opened at the beginning of next week, those of Brus- 
sels and Antwerp soon afterward? 

Accept, dear Baron, the expression of my high esteem. 
(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

Archbishop's House, Malines, 

October iZth, 191 8. 
To Baron von der Lancken, Chief of the Political Depart- 
ment of the Government General, Brussels. 
Dear Baron — The communal authorities at Malines 
are very much perturbed at the way in which the military 
make free use of the residences of private people. They 
are not content with requisitioning available rooms, but they 
expel, in a cavalier manner, the landlords from their homes 
and supplant them. Ladies, lawyers, doctors, have thus been 
evicted from their houses. 

And yet places of amusement, concert halls and theaters, 

440 



& 



R D - 6 6. « 



BEHAVIOR OF GERMAN TROOPS 44i 

which would be admirably adapted for the installation of 
officers, are left open. The occupation of those places 
would, moreover, have a salutary moral effect. 

I know that the jurisdiction of His Excellency the Gov- 
ernor General does not extend to the war zone, but I thought 
that his great influence might indirectly be used, and with 
success, in the interest of Malines families and of public 
order. 

I avail myself of this opportunity to thank you for the 
release already granted to prisoners and also ask you to 
kindly stimulate the zeal of the officials commissioned to 
carry out the work of release. I know that numerous pris- 
oners, among whom is a considerable contingent of priests 
and religious, who could render invaluable services to the 
diocese, are anxiously awaiting the release promised them 
through the clemency of the Governor General. 

Accept, Baron, the assurance of my sincere esteem. 

(Signed) D. J. Cardinal Mercier, 

Archbishop of Malines. 

Political Department of the Government General, 

Brussels, November ist, 191 8. 
To His Eminence Cardinal Mercier, Archbishop of Malines. 

I have the honor to acknowledge your esteemed letter of 
October 28th. I at once sent it to the competent military 
authorities, and believe myself already justified in saying 
that your Eminence's wishes will be met, so far as circum- 
stances will allow. 

I offer to your Eminence the assurance of my sincere 
esteem. 

(Signed) Lancken. 



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